BHUBANESWAR: Odisha witnessed a fall in rape cases in 2016, if the data compiled by the state home department in its annual White Paper is any indication. Rape cases nosedived to 2144 last year from 2184 in 2015, the White Paper revealed.TOI has a copy of the White Paper, which is likely to be tabled in the Assembly on Tuesday. Overall crime recorded a marginal increase with registration of 1,03,702 cases in 2016 as against 1,03,200 cases in the previous year. "Registration of cases does not mean crime went up. More number of cases were registered due to establishment of more police stations and rise in population. The law and order situation is under control," DGP Kunwar Brajesh Singh told TOI.Police attributed the cause of a slump in rape cases to introduction of several women-friendly schemes and awareness measures. "We often found rape accused were acquaintances of victims. Breach in love affairs and false marital promises led to rapes. We carried out sensitisation programmes with the help of NGOs and Mahila commission at several places, including educational institutions," said another police officer.On August 26, 2016 the capital city was in a shock when police arrested bus driver of a reputed private school here on charges of raping a four-year-old student inside the school toilet. Another shocking rape incident was reported in Dhenkanal district on December 7 last year where a girl was raped by her boyfriend in a forest.

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