Has rape become normalised in India?

The true figure is likely to be much higher, as many such crimes go unreported due to fear of reprisal, prevailing stigmas around victims and a lack of faith in police investigations.

“We are seeing the worst phase of sexual violence and misogyny now,” Kavita Srivastava, general secretary of the Peoples Union of Civil Liberties, told DW.

“This is the new India where there seems to be a complete breakdown of the rule of law, which is directly affecting women most, as it is also a period of unabashed consolidation of patriarchy.”

Srivastava, who has campaigned on women’s safety, says violence against women seems to have become even more normalized.

“For instance, the trolls on social media, who want to either silence, abuse or rape every assertive woman or her daughter are not made accountable,” Srivastava said.

“With the increasing impunity that the violators have and the judicial instruments also surrendering to the political masters, fighting rape has become tough.”