Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Jun 29: Goa has witnessed an alarming 18.59% rise in sexual assault cases during the first five and a half months of 2025, with data exposing deeply disturbing crimes ranging from minor victims to the shocking rape of a 90-year-old bedridden woman.
Between January 1 and June 15, Goa Police registered 54 cases, up from 44 during the same period last year. North Goa accounted for the highest number with 32 cases, followed by 18 in South Goa, and four at the Women’s Police Station. In comparison, the corresponding period in 2024 saw 21 cases in North Goa, 16 in South Goa, and seven from the Women’s Police Station.
One of the most horrific cases involved a 90-year-old woman allegedly raped by a 50-year-old man in Colvale. The crime came to light when the victim’s daughter walked in on the accused attempting to assault the elderly woman again. The man, a former technician abandoned by his wife, was arrested after fleeing into nearby bushes.
In another case, Colva police booked 24-year-old Akash Lamani for allegedly exploiting a minor girl under the pretext of marriage since 2021. The girl was reportedly assaulted repeatedly and threatened into silence.
While police cite a 96.29% detection rate with 52 of the 54 cases investigated, women’s rights activists argue that justice remains elusive. “The high detection rate doesn’t mean justice is being delivered. Trials drag for years, often a decade, and survivors are re-traumatised with every court date,” said Sabina Martins, a noted educator and activist.
Martins referred to a decade-old case in which a woman’s private parts were stuffed with chilli powder, where justice is still pending. “We are only collecting statistics, but justice is still a distant dream,” she said.
Arun Pandey, founder of NGO ARZ, added, “The criminal justice system has failed to create deterrence. Men’s attitudes need to change, but the system must ensure fear of law through speedy trials and convictions.”
Martins also highlighted the vulnerability of women living alone and questioned the lack of proactive prevention mechanisms. “Where is the emergency response, awareness drives, or fear of the law?” she asked.
Another women’s rights advocate urged Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to intervene and ensure better enforcement, societal change, and education. “These attacks are a growing social evil. We need to teach respect for women from a young age and stop the portrayal of women as objects,” she said.
Activists called for a united stand, demanding accountability, preventive measures, and timely justice to restore faith in the system.