Among Indian cities, Delhi logs a high number of crimes against women, including murder, rape and sexual harassment — or “eve-teasing” as it’s called in India. National statistics show the capital accounted for 17.5 percent of 2007 abuse reports, more than twice as many as Hyderabad, which reported 7.8 percent of such crimes that year.

But most cases still go unreported because victims fear having to face male police officers who dismiss or deride their complaints.

The problem is “the mindset of the police — they come from the socialization that women are to blame,” said Ranjana Kumari, director of Delhi’s Center for Social Research. “The victim is further victimized by this behavior.”

Starting this week, police will begin placing female officers at front desks in each of Delhi’s 185 police stations, police spokesman Rajan Bhajat said.

“We have women police officers who can interact with the victims,” said Sudhir Yadav, joint police commissioner overseeing the division on crimes against women. “This will organize and formalize the situation ... so that the woman is feeling more comfortable.”

The change is part of an overall drive to improve protection for women, as the number of abuse cases rises with India’s economic boom bringing social turbulence, sexy marketing images and more women into the work place.

Delhi has improved its police response over the past decade, training officers in sensitivity and adding a special department to address such cases. Delhi’s metro has designated one “women only” car in every train. And women’s organizations such as Kumari’s are sending counselors to work with victims and police teams.

“Women are out and about more” in society, Kumari said.

“But society is still very restrictive in terms of allowing boys and girls to meet and date before marriage.” So there is more temptation, more tension — and ultimately more cases of rape.

India recorded 21,467 rape cases in 2008, up 18 percent from the 18,233 cases in 2004, according to the latest figures from the National Crime Records Bureau.

Other crimes are also rising, including sexual harassment, abuse and killings over dowry disputes, despite stringent laws that mandate life in prison as punishment.