Thiruvananthapuram:
Kerala has witnessed an increase in crimes against children in the first seven months of this year.
A total of 1,336 crimes, including 427 rapes, against children had been reported in the state upto July this year, according to State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) figures.
Of this, thirteen cases were for offences under Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 69 kidnapping and 23 murders, it was stated.
Total crimes against children in 2013 was 1,877, which included 637 rapes.
The state also saw registration of 8,674 offences against women during the period.
As many as 790 of this were rape while 2,760 connected with molestation charges, SCRB said.
A total of 13 women lost their lives due to harassment for more dowry. Cruelty by husbands and relatives accounted for 3,019 cases, it was stated.
Malappuram District topped the list for crimes against women with 910 cases reported in the first seven months of this year, followed by Thiruvananthapuram rural with 773.