Increase in crimes against women, children, SC/ST, and cyber crimes in 2022: NCRB
Updated: Dec 4th, 2023
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| NCRB (img: IANS) |
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has released its latest data, indicating a marginal decrease in number of murder cases, a surge in cyber crimes, and crimes against kids across India, in 2022.
Decrease in murder cases
As many as 28,522 FIRs for murder were registered, averaging 76 killings daily, down from 29,272 in 2021.
The primary motives behind these crimes were identified, with ‘disputes’ leading the tally at 9,962 cases, followed by ‘personal vendetta or enmity’ (3,761) and ‘gain’ (1,884).
In terms of age, the data revealed that 95.4% of murder victims were adults.
Keeping gender in regard, men constituted approximately 70% of the victims, 8,125 were females, while nine were third-gender persons.
Metropolitan cities including Ahmedabad witnessed a 3.9% increase in murder cases, reaching 2,031 in 2022. Bengaluru witnessed 173 murder cases, Mumbai 135, Lucknow 131, Patna 107 and Chennai 101.
Among states and Union Territories, Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of FIRs at 3,491, followed by Bihar (2,930), Maharashtra (2,295), Madhya Pradesh (1,978), and Rajasthan (1,834). Together, these five states accounted for 43.92% of murder cases in the country. Among Union Territories, Delhi registered 509, the highest number of cases of murder in 2022.
Conversely, Sikkim (9), Nagaland (21), Mizoram (31), Goa (44), and Manipur (47) reported the lowest number of murder cases in 2022.
Report highlights other crimes
According to NCRB data, overall kidnapping and abduction cases across the country saw a 5.8% increase, totaling 1,07,588 cases in 2022. Disturbingly, 76,069 victims were children, emphasising the vulnerability of the younger population.
Out of the total victims, 1,17,083 were recovered, with 974 found dead.
Crimes affecting the human body constituted 32.5% of total IPC crimes in 2022.
‘Hurt’ cases accounted for the majority at 54.2%, followed by cases of ‘Causing death by negligence’ (13.7%) and ‘Kidnapping & Abduction’ (9.3%).
The reported cases increased by 5.3% from 11,00,425 in 2021 to 11,58,815 in 2022, with the crime rate rising from 80.5 to 84.0.
Crimes against weaker sections
A disturbing rise was observed in crimes against children, with 1,62,449 cases reported, marking an 8.7% increase from 2021.
“Kidnapping and abduction accounted for 45.7% of these cases, while the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), 2012, contributed 39.7%. The crime rate per lakh children population increased from 33.6 in 2021 to 36.6 in 2022,” stated the report.
According to the NCRB report, Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of incidents at 8,151, followed by Maharashtra (7,572), Madhya Pradesh (5,996), Tamil Nadu (4,968) and Rajasthan (3,371). Among Union Territories, Delhi witnessed the highest, 1,512 incidents under POCSO Act.
The data also revealed that 13,927 minor girls were abducted last year from across the country in a bid to compel them for marriage. Bihar (4,070) topped the list followed by Uttar Pradesh (3,846).
Juvenile crimes saw a 2% decline, with 30,555 cases reported in 2022. The majority of juveniles (78.6%) in conflict with the law fell in the age group of 16 to 18 years.
“Crimes against senior citizens rose by 9.3%, totaling 28,545 cases. ‘Simple Hurt’ accounted for the highest number of cases (27.3%), followed by ‘Theft’ (13.8%) and ‘Forgery, Cheating and Fraud’ (11.2%),” the report stated.
The report further stated that crimes against Scheduled Castes (SCs) increased by 13.1%, reaching 57,582 cases in 2022.
‘Simple Hurt’ accounted for the highest number of cases (32.0%), followed by ‘Criminal Intimidation’ (9.2%) and cases under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (8.2%).
Similarly, crimes against Scheduled Tribes (STs) rose by 14.3%, with ‘Simple Hurt’ constituting the majority (28.1%). Rape and assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty followed at 13.4% and 10.2%, respectively.
Crimes against Women
crimes against women also witnessed an uptick in 2022. A total of 4,45,256 cases were registered, indicating a 4.0% increase from the previous year’s 4,28,278 cases.
The majority of these cases, according to the NCRB data, were registered under ‘Cruelty by Husband or His Relatives’ (31.4%), followed by ‘Kidnapping & Abduction of Women’ (19.2%), ‘Assault on Women with Intent to Outrage her Modesty’ (18.7%), and ‘Rape’ (7.1%).
The crime rate per lakh women population increased from 64.5 in 2021 to 66.4 in 2022, emphasising the urgency of addressing gender-based violence.
Cybercrime rate in India
A total of 65,893 cybercrime cases were registered in 2022, marking a substantial 24.4% increase from the previous year's 52,974 cases.
The crime rate in this category rose from 3.9 in 2021 to 4.8 in 2022. Delving deeper into the cybercrime statistics, a staggering 64.8% of the cases were motivated by fraud, accounting for 42,710 instances.
Extortion followed at 5.5% (3,648 cases), and sexual exploitation constituted 5.2% (3,434 cases).
This alarming increase in cybercrimes highlights the pressing need for enhanced cybersecurity measures and public awareness.
In tandem with the rise in cybercrimes, crimes against women also witnessed an uptick in 2022. A total of 4,45,256 cases were registered, indicating a 4.0% increase from the previous year's 4,28,278 cases.
The majority of these cases, according to the NCRB data, were registered under 'Cruelty by Husband or His Relatives' (31.4%), followed by 'Kidnapping & Abduction of Women' (19.2%), 'Assault on Women with Intent to Outrage her Modesty' (18.7%), and 'Rape' (7.1%).
The crime rate per lakh women population increased from 64.5 in 2021 to 66.4 in 2022, emphasising the urgency of addressing gender-based violence.
(Source: IANS)
- Edited for style
