The national capital has registered a whopping 17 per cent rise in rape cases this year with 661 such incidents being reported till December 15 compared to 564 during same period last year. The figures indicate that more and more women were reporting incidents of crime against them with the police, Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar said here today.

"These numbers are high. (But) contrary to popular belief, more and more women are becoming empowered to lodge or report (such matters)," he told a press conference also attended by Union Home Secretary R K Singh.

In 2010, 489 rape cases were reported while for 2009 the figure was 459, which showed that such cases were on the rise in the past couple of years. The rise in population also should be taken into account in this regard, Kumar said.