The Congress-led opposition in Kerala on Wednesday hit out at the Pinarayi Vijayan government for being unable to prevent attacks on women and children. The Opposition said Kerala now leads in number of such attacks.

Moving an adjournment motion on increasing attacks on women and children, the lone women legislator in the opposition ranks, Congress legislator Shanimol Usman said that last year, according to the figures of the National Crime Records Bureau, 1,945 cases of rape and 2,076 cases against attacks on children below age 18 have been reported.

"You (Vijayan) rode to power in 2016 on the campaign plank that women and children would be safe. Today what's happening is exactly the opposite -- women and children are under duress. And if the attacker is a party man (ruling party-CPI-M), then the state women's commission remains silent," said Usman.

She alleged that victims are scared to report crime. "The classic example of the way the police treat the victims was a recent episode when a woman was at the receiving end when she complained of being harassed at Varkala seaside. The police response was since the incident took place at the seaside, only the Coastal Police would register a case. Such is the apathy of the police," said Usman.

Vijayan's response was largely dismissive, but he admitted that there has been a spike in such crimes and that the police were doing their job.

"Certain old cases have been raised today and in several of them, action has already been taken," said Vijayan.

"There are many women and children friendly programmes being run by the state police and the government. A new set of protocol is now in place directing police as to how cases against women and children should be investigated. We are committed to raising the strength of women police personnel by 15 per cent. All-women police stations will soon be set up in all the districts," said Vijayan.

But leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala came down heavily on the Vijayan government, saying only posters were being released.

"The sad part is in these cases, trial takes a long time. Forensic reports in such cases take a long time to come. In Europe these cases are over in 45 days," he said.

"Another aspect is while these cases get delayed, the police get involved in moral policing too, which is wrong. It has now come to light that the state government has not submitted the utilisation certificate for funds received under the Nirbhaya Fund," said Chennithala.

Later the entire opposition trooped out of the House as the Chief Minister did not take up the issue for a discussion.