Thiruvananthapuram: Amid continued debate on more stringent laws to curb crime against women, Kerala has recorded 23,853 cases involving violence, including rape, against women and 1,326 cases of attack on children in the past two years.
Also, 14,640 people ended their lives in the past two years out of which 3,501 were women and 448 children.
In a written reply in the state Assembly, Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said out of the 23,853 cases of violence against women, as many as 1,976 cases related to rape and 6,870 connected with molestation.
Eight women and two children were killed due to sexual harassment during the period and 30 cases in connection with sexual exploitation of children below the age of five years were reported.
Malappuram district (7) followed by Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam (5 each) topped the list of sexual harassment on children below five years, the reply tabled in the House said.
Apart from this, 2,050 cases of violence against minor girls including 579 rape and 45 murder were reported during the period.
A total of 675 cases related to sexual harassment against children were reported from homes and educational institutions.
Family problem continued to be the main reason for suicides with 5,533 people taking the extreme step on account of this. Financial burden forced 1,164 people to end their lives, the minister said.
PTI
