Four women from Bangladesh were arrested in Meghalaya's South Garo Hills district for illegally crossing the border in an attempt to sell their products in a local market, officials said today.
The four women from Netrakona district of Bangladesh were apprehended after they sneaked into India along the International border along with goods and currencies of both countries, BSF spokesperson said here.
During search, 24 lungis, 12 towels, 40 washing soaps were seized from their possession, he said.
These women confessed to the BSF officials that they wanted to sell their products in Bhaghmara market.
They were identified as Bina Hajong, Nirma Sangma, Mallika Hajong and Shivli Sangma, the BSF said.
Meghalaya shares a 443 Km-long border with Bangladesh and two local border haats are in operation along the zero line where local from both sides of the border trade freely.
Although four more border haats are likely to be operationalised soon, the absence of legal haats has prompted people residing on both sides of the border to make such attempts.
Governor P Sathasivam, in his policy address in the state
Assembly last week, had announced a slew of women-friendly measures of CPI(M)-led LDF government including launch of a 'sex offenders register', a first such in the country which would contain all identification details of sex offenders.
According to the statistics, the highest number of crimes against women, including rape, was reported last year from northern district of Malappuram, where there were as many as 1406 cases under various categories.
The total number of rape cases reported from Malappuram was 160, followed by Thiruvananthapuram rural (138) and Ernakulam rural (112), it said.
Malappuram also witnessed highest number of cases in terms of molestation (275) and cruelty by husbands and other relatives (436), the statistics added.
The police figures also showed a steady increase in the crimes against women and children in the state in the last nine years.
The total number of crimes reported against women was 9,381 in 2007, 9,706 in 2008, 9,354 in 2009, 10,781 in 2010, 13,279 in 2011, 13,002 in 2012, 13,783 in 2013, 13,880 in 2014 and 12,383 in 2015, it said.
As many as 549 crimes against children were reported under various heads in the state in 2008, which rose to 589 in 2009, 596 in 2010, 1,452 in 2011, 1,324 in 2012, 1,877 in 2013, 2,286 in 2014 and 2,394 in 2015, it said.
On the alleged abduction and molestation of the actress, Shylaja said mere awareness classes and campaigns would not bring any change in the mindset of people but the need of the hour is the involvement of men and women in social activities.
"Films and television programmes influence people to a large extent. Visuals and dialogues, ill-treating women, should be regulated in such media. Public and civil society should take the responsibility to check the insulting of women and children in films and TV serials," she said.
People should also be ready to report every minute incident of harassment of women and children to the law enforcers, the minister added.
The incident of abduction and alleged molestation of the young actress had evoked widespread condemnation.
The prime accused in the case, 'Pulsar' Suni and his accomplice V P Vijeesh were arrested following high drama in the premises of a local court complex in Kochi on Thursday.
