Bhubaneswar: Odisha recorded a 5.6% increase in crimes against women in 2025 compared to the previous year, with the number of registered cases rising from 30,958 in 2024 to 32,687 in 2025, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi informed the Assembly.
In a written reply to a question by Congress MLA Sofia Firdous, the Chief Minister provided detailed figures covering an 18-month period from June 2024 to March 7, 2026, during which over 53,000 cases of crimes against women were registered in the state.
While overall cases showed a slight uptick in 2025, rape incidents declined marginally from 3,054 in 2024 to 2,994 in 2025.
Majhi noted that serious offences such as rape, attempted rape, public disrobing, acid attacks, dowry-related homicide, suicide, and torture registered a decline. However, incidents of molestation, sexual harassment, voyeurism, stalking, trafficking, eve-teasing, and abduction increased during the period.
Breakdown of key offences during this 8-month period:
4,713 rape cases
212 cases of attempt to rape
7,504 cases of dowry torture,
8,814 cases of non-dowry torture
270 cases of dowry homicide
11,502 cases of kidnapping or abduction
12,531 cases of molestation
1,869 cases of sexual harassment
2,673 cases of public dis
robing
Reaffirming his government’s commitment to women’s safety, the Chief Minister outlined several measures, including the dedicated Crime Against Women and Children Wing (CAW&CW), which closely monitors sensitive cases from investigation through to trial and provides guidance to officers. “Regular monitoring of ‘red-flag’ cases has helped fast-track trials, with 199 cases completed in 2025, of which 94 ended in conviction, achieving a 47.25 per cent conviction rate,” Majhi said.
To enhance surveillance, CCTV cameras have been installed at vulnerable points across districts.
Under the Subhadra Surakhya Yojana, proposals are being considered for new initiatives such as a women’s safety app integrated with the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112), gender sensitisation training, child-friendly police stations, public awareness campaigns, procurement of 1,000 body cameras, and additional CCTV installations in crime-prone areas. District police have stepped up patrolling in vulnerable public spaces to prevent sexual harassment. The government is also collaborating with NGOs to support victims and prevent crimes, while cyber police stations monitor cases of online abuse. Community policing through programmes like Ama Police Samiti is encouraging women to report incidents without fear. Awareness drives are being conducted in schools and colleges, focussing on safety and self-defence for women and children, he said,
The state currently has 23 exclusive POCSO courts, seven designated POCSO courts, and 46 women’s courts functioning for the speedy trial of offences against women and children, he added.