New Delhi: India is facing an alarming increase in sexual violence, with recent rape incidents in Bengaluru, Karnataka, and Dehradun, Uttarakhand, sparking nationwide concern and outrage.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the surge in reported cases comes shortly after the brutal rape and murder of a female doctor, an incident that deeply shocked the country. In Bengaluru, a 21-year-old college student was raped by a motorcyclist who offered her a lift. Police reports indicate that the assailant diverted to an isolated location where he assaulted her. The victim was later found in a dire state near Hosur Service Road.

In a separate incident in Dehradun, a teenage girl was gang-raped inside a government-owned bus. Following an extensive review of CCTV footage, Dehradun police apprehended five men involved in the assault, including the bus driver and conductor. This case, like others, has underscored the persistent vulnerability of women and girls in India to sexual violence.

Experts suggest that the increasing prevalence of such crimes is due to a combination of deep-rooted societal biases, ineffective law enforcement, and a prevailing culture of impunity. They argue that entrenched misogyny and patriarchal values, compounded by the lack of rigorous law enforcement and public awareness, contribute to a societal backdrop where sexual violence occurs with disturbing regularity. The politicization of rape and a prevailing victim-blaming mentality further exacerbate the situation, often deterring victims from seeking justice.

These incidents have ignited calls for urgent and comprehensive reform in India’s approach to preventing sexual violence and supporting victims.