It did not take long for the report of the rape of an elderly nun in a convent in West Bengal to hit headlines across the world. In the wake of this barbaric incident, questions are being raised on whether India is becoming rape capital of the world?

It is still not clear whether this incident should be viewed as another example of religious minorities in India being targeted by Hindu extremists. Nevertheless, several analysts have not hesitated in citing this incident as a symbol of the increasing insecurity faced by Christians in India.

Undeniably, recent past has witnessed attacks on several churches by Hindu extremists. Over the past three months, five churches have been attacked in Delhi. A church in the capital city was burned down last year in December. Each of these cases has been assumed to be a deliberate attempt by extremist Hindu groups to target Christians. However, while churches were attacked, in these incidents, no case of rape or sexual assault was reported.

Statistically, there is no denying that rapes have registered an alarming increase over the last few years in India. During 13 years, from 2001 to 2013, according to a Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) analysis, 2,64,134 rape cases were reported in 28 Indian states, with around 56 incidents taking place daily. In 2013 alone, figures released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) indicate that 92 women were raped daily in the country.

There is no denying that Hindu extremists target minorities in India, including Muslims and Christians. It cannot, however, be ignored that majority of victims in the reported rape cases belong to Hindu community. Nonetheless, of late, Hindu extremists have been overaggressive in lashing out scathing comments against minorities. It is possible that communal venom espoused by these extremists may have incited their associates to indulge in crimes targeting minorities, including rape.

Rape of the elderly nun in West Bengal may have been a result of this communal arson being deliberately instigated by those linked with the saffron brigade. West Bengal is not home to communal tension and rape incidents as compared with other parts of the country. Of late, however, a saffron brigade activist had criticized late Mother Teresa, known as an icon of humanity, who lived most of her life in Kolkata (West Bengal). Mohan Bhagwat, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief stated that the motive behind Mother Teresa’s social service was to convert those she served to Christianity.

Bhagwat’s comments earned him ire in India and abroad. His comments indicate the mentality of such extremists. The largest minority community in India — Muslims — has also not been spared. A Hindu extremist recently called for even dead Muslim women to be raped. It may be recalled, during Gujarat carnage (2002), Muslim women were brutally raped by Hindu rioters.

Paradoxically, all alleged rapists have so far not been punished. This point demands attention in the context of an alleged rapist, an Indian Muslim, having recently been dragged out of prison by an angry mob in Dimapur (Nagaland) and brutally lynched to death. Legally, his crime was not proved. He was in prison and that only indicated that a judicial process had begun. There is a great need for conducting thorough probe as to what or who provoked the mob.

Neither the rape of the elderly nun in West Bengal nor Dimapur incident can be viewed as local incidents. Had strong legal and political action been initiated against the unscrupulous elements elements, incidents of this nature might not have occurred.

Sadly, while some ethical values have been maintained by not revealing the name and displaying photo of the elderly nun, similar decorum has not been exercised in the reporting of Dimapur incident.

The elderly nun’s rape and Dimapur incident are stark indicators of India becoming a rape capital cannot be simply confined to statistics.