Police alone can't stop rapes: MP Top Cop

Madhya Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP), Kailash Makwana, said police alone cannot stop rape cases and blamed the internet, mobile phones, and alcohol that have led to a decline in moral values and a rise in cases of sexual assault.

During a divisional review meeting in Ujjain, Makwana said people had easy access to obscene material due to the widespread availability of cell phones and the internet. Later he told reporters, “There are several reasons behind this (rising rape cases). In my view, the internet, cell phones, the availability of obscene material, alcohol, increased connectivity, and declining moral values in society are some examples.

“To say it is the sole responsibility of the police (to tackle rape cases) is not possible. Earlier, we saw that children used to listen to their teachers and parents, and there was some degree of shame, but now those boundaries have been breached."

Makwana also said young minds are easily influenced due to obscene material available on the internet, which has fuelled rape cases. “The kind of obscenity being served through the internet is distorting young minds from an early age, which is why these cases are rising," he said.

Rape is one of the most common crimes against women in India, with critics highlighting the lack of police action, legal hurdles, and societal norms in delayed justice for victims. Rape cases in Madhya Pradesh rose by 19% in 2024, from 6,134 in 2020 to 7,294 last year, according to the state Home Department