Bhubaneswar: Odisha saw 24% decrease in cases of crime against women in 2022 compared to the previous year, according to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) annual crime report.
The state reported 23,648 cases of crime against women in 2022, compared to 31,352 in 2021 and 25,489 in 2020. Among these, 263 pertained to dowry deaths and 14 due to rape-murder. Odisha also saw 4 cases of acid attacks and one attempt.
Across India in 2022, the state stood fourth in rate of total crime against women at 103% after Haryana (118.7), Telangana (117), Rajasthan (115.1).
However, Odisha reported an increase in over-all crime figures with 1,78,190 cases in 2022 against 1,55,420 in 2021 and 1,34,230 in 2020.
Crime against children cases spiralled to 8,240 in 2022 compared to 7,899 in 2021 and 6,330 in 2020. There has also been a rise in cases of kidnapping and abduction in Odisha with 5,854 in 2022 compared to 5,625 in 2021 and 4,179 in 2020. The state is third in rate of kidnapping and abduction at 12.7%, after Haryana (13) and Assam (12.8).
The state, however, saw a decline in murders with 1,379 cases being reported in 2022 against 1,394 in 2021 and 1,470 in 2020. While 106 murders were committed due to personal enmity, 252 were due to dowry, 25 for gains and 68 owing to love affairs. The state also saw 8 political murders in 2022 and another 688 due to various disputes.
Across India, overall crime rate declined from 7% in 2021 to 6.9% in 2022. However, there was 24% rise in cybercrimes in 2022 compared to 2021. Other categories of crime – including economic offences (11%), crimes against senior citizens (9.3%), against women (4%), children (8.7%), Scheduled Castes (13.1%) and Scheduled Tribes (14.3%) – too recorded an increase.
