The Supreme Court has said the devastating increase in the incident of rape and crime against women is a matter of concern both nationally and internationally.

A bench of Justices P.Sathasivam and Ranjan Gogoi in a judgement said, the court must ensure that offenders do not escape punishment on frivolous ground and are given rigorous imprisonment.

The court reversed the acquittal of an offender by the Allahabad High Court in 2003 after noting that the High Court has erred in disbelieving the statements of witnesses.