Earlier on January 4 (Sunday), a Delhi University student escaped from the clutches of car-borne abductors. She was abducted from a weekly market (Sunday Bazaar) in Sector 58, Noida, by three car-borne men in front of hundreds of people. As per the reports published in The Times of India, the kidnappers allegedly assaulted her in their attempt to keep her gagged and tried to rape her, before dumping her near a Ghaziabad village three hours later. The most surprising part of the crime was that it took place at a time when the girl was accompanied by her mother and a neighbour. The report of her medical examination is yet to come to determine whether she was raped or not.

On the very next day (Monday night), a 24-year-old woman was allegedly abducted from outside Noida’s biggest mall, The Great India Place and raped. The incident occurred when the woman, an MBA student, was sitting in a car with a man. As per the report, a group of men in a Scorpio approached them and dragged the woman into their car and took her to Sector 71 area of Noida. She was allegedly gang-raped there and later dumped. This was the second case of abduction in Noida in 48 hours. In this case also, the victim was not alone when the incident took place.

In another incident, a 22-year-old woman alleged that she was gang raped by a ’godman’ practising occult and his associates. However, the police alleged that the victim had an illicit relationship with the accused, whereas the victim’s family alleged that the police only registered a complaint of molestation and not rape. Whatsoever is the case the police did not send the ‘victim’ for medical examination.

In another daring act of criminals, more than half a dozen persons in two cars made an attempt to kidnap a schoolgirl in Sector-11, Noida. But the girl was saved because two of the girl’s classmates who were accompanying her and two private guards posted in the area thwarted the kidnappers’ attempt. Ironically, Noida superintendent of police (city) Ashok Tripathi, claimed that he had no knowledge of any such incident in the area.

The rise in the incidents of abduction and rape clearly indicate towards the fact that Noida is becoming a crime capital. The daring nature of the criminals shows that they have no fear of being nabbed by the public nor they are concerned about the possible police action. The tragic and gory state of affairs reflects upon the ineffectiveness of law and order machinery in the city and the inability of the police force to check these crimes.

To prevent lawlessness and of course, crime against women, in Noida and elsewhere in the country the number of police personnel should be increased and the patrolling and vigilance in the areas must be intensified to put a curb on criminals. The police must bring the culprits to justice as it has become necessary because the conviction rate in crime against women in the country is about 14 per cent. Due to the low conviction rate criminals dare to commit crimes because they know stringent action will not be taken against them. The civilised society should wake up to this menace.