Srinagar, Aug 21 (KNS): Social activist Khazin Rafi on Friday has expressed serious concern over the upsurge in the domestic violence cases in Kashmir, terming the trend troublesome for any saner society to prosper.

Quoting latest figures, Khazin said that the government must prioritise its efforts in taming the prevalent domestic violence cases and come up with a long term strategy in tackling the dreadful menace. She said that more than 1800 cases of domestic violence, abetment to suicide, cruelty by husband and dowry were registered by police in past three years in Jammu and Kashmir. However, said Khazin, various independent surveys reveal that more than 4000 cases of domestic violence against women are reported from Kashmir every year. “The survey adds that a large number of the women in Kashmir are unwilling to file a grievance or a complaint of this nature due to the disgrace that will befall them and their family. Many are scared of the legal issues and hassles which come with the territory. Another survey done by a non- government organisation this year claims that more than half of the cases of domestic violence on women are withdrawn due to family pressure or some sort of settlement between the parties,” Khazin said.

According to statement issued to KNS, She maintained that research indicates that more than 40 percent of women in Kashmir are physically or emotionally abused by the husbands and/ or the in-laws. Researchers, according to Khazin, are of the opinion that dowry; misunderstandings between the couple, birth of a girl child are the common reasons behind marital discord leading to an increase in the domestic violence in the state. “Research also relates unemployment and the political unrest in the Valley turmoil to the escalating violence. Therefore, the government is duty bound to address the crises at an earliest and leave no stone unturned to ensure that the menace dips with each passing day here,” she said. (KNS)