29,646 women harassed after LDF came to power

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As many as 29,646 women, including children, have been harassed in the state after the LDF came to power in May 2006.

According to a written reply by Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan in the Assembly on Monday, those who became victims of harassment include 158 girls below the age of 10 and 644 girls between 10 and 15 years.

Around 13,879 females between the age of 15 and 29, 14,549 in the age of 30 to 65 and 389 above 65 years were victims of harassment. The victims also include 609 belonging to the SC/ST communities.

A total of 29,555 cases were registered by the police in connection with the incidents, of which the accused were held in 25,423 cases, the minister said in his reply to K Sivadasan Nair.

Kodiyeri also informed the House that 1,435 persons were murdered in the state during the period, 483 of whom were women and 44 owing to political reasons.

The maximum number of murders was reported from Palakkad (153).