The Times of India News Service

VARANASI: Except Chandauli, the home district of the chief minister, crime against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have been increasing in almost all the districts falling under Varanasi zone.

During the last five months of 2001, as many as 243 cases under SC/ST Act have been registered in the 10 districts of the zone. Azamgarh topped the tally of crimes against SC/ST. Surprisingly in comparison to the other districts including Chandauli, Mirzapur, Sonebhadra and Ghazipur, where Naxalite activities are on the rise, crime incidents against SC/ST are less.

As per the crime record of Varanasi zone, a large number of cases were registered under SC/ST Act in the districts of Azamgarh range. In the first five months of this year, as many as 114 such cases were registered with different police stations of the range including 57 cases alone in Azamgarh district. During the same period in the years 2000 and 1999, there were 101 and 80 cases respectively in this range. In Ballia and Mau districts of this range, the number of crime against SC/ST was reduced during this period. The Varanasi range is not far behind from Azamgarh. In begining months of the year 2000, only 57 cases under this Act were registered while 77 cases had been registered till the end of May this year.

Varanasi district is leading the tally with 27 cases. In 2000 and 1999, only 19 and 21 cases were regitered under this act. In comparison to the number of last year's record (16), the crime against SC/ST has reduced in Chandauli district. But the atrocities against these people had also been increased in Jaunpur and Ghazipur districts.

A continous rise in crime against SC/ST people was also recorded in Vindhyachal range. As many as 34 cases were recorded in the begining of 1999 and 45 cases were registered in 2000, But the number increaed upto 54 by the end of May this year. Sonebhadra, where nine cases under SC/ST Act were registered in 2000 and 1999 each, the graph was on decline. But in Mirzapur, there were 27 cases recorded this year indicating a rise. Similarly the SC/ST people were also exploited in large number in Sant Ravidas Nagar-Bhadohi where 18 cases were registered.