The release of the much-awaited NCRB Report (National Crime Records Bureau) of 2022 revealed some shocking statistics on crime rates in India, looking at which one can't help but question the reality of crime decline in India.
While the overall crime rate per lakh population may have dropped, the startling 24.4% spike in cybercrime and the surge in crimes against women and children challenge this narrative. The figures paint a vivid picture that violent offences are reverting to pre-COVID levels.
The NCRB report is usually made public by July or August annually. However, this year (2023), it was delayed by at least five months. The report is titled "Crime in India 2022" and is based on data collected from 28 states and 8 Union territories and central agencies.
Read this article to check out whether there is a decline or surge in the crime rate in India with the help of data collected by NCRB on 2022 crimes.
Crimes of 2022 Reported by NCRB
Sudden deaths
In 2022, there was an 11.6% increase in the number of unexpected deaths all over the country, as stated in the ADSI (Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India) report.
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A total of 56,653 sudden deaths were reported during this time, and out of these, 32,410 were due to heart attacks. The remaining 24,243 deaths were attributed to other reasons.
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The age group most affected was between 45 and 60 years, with 19,456 reported deaths.
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Also, a study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research and Registrar General of India also revealed that India bears about 60% of the world's burden of heart diseases.
Suicides and accidental deaths
Recent reports from the National Crime Records Bureau have highlighted a concerning increase in both suicides and accidental deaths in India. These trends are alarming and require a deeper understanding of the underlying issues.
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In 2022, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) revealed a concerning rise in suicides, reaching 1,70,924 compared to 1,64,033 in 2021.
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Accidental deaths also saw an increase, going to 4,30,504 in 2022 from 3,97,530 in 2021.
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Even, a psychiatrist in September 2022 pointed out to IndiaSpend, several reasons for potential underreporting, such as the lack of medical certification, the stigma surrounding mental health, and the impact of criminalization. Sometimes, the denial of insurance claims for suicide-related deaths adds to the challenges.
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Previously, in 2021, India recorded its highest-ever suicide rate, with 12 suicides for every 100,000 people, as reported by IndiaSpend. However, experts believe the actual numbers might be higher.
Crime against Women
It is unacceptable that cases of crime against women in our society have increased by 4% from the previous year, as revealed by the recent crime report. This is also a pressing issue that demands immediate attention and action.
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Delhi registered the highest rate of crime against women in the country at 144.4, way above India’s average rate of 66.4.
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The latest crime report highlights a concerning rise in crimes against women in 2022, with 4,45,256 registered cases, showing a 4% uptick from the previous year.
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The majority of these cases involve cruelty by spouses or relatives (31.4%), followed by kidnapping and abduction (19.2%), assault "with intent to outrage modesty" (18.7%), and rape (7.1%).
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Notably, Rajasthan reported the highest number of rape cases (5,399 out of 31,516), followed by Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Haryana. In 2022, Delhi reported 1,212 rape cases.
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The crime rate, measured per lakh women population, increased slightly from 64.5 in 2021 to 66.4 in 2022, emphasizing the need for focused efforts to address and combat crimes against women.
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Previously, the crime rate against women (number of incidents per 1 lakh population) increased from 56.5% in 2020 to 64.5% in 2021.
Crime against children
The latest report also delves into the distressing reality faced by children, revealing a staggering surge in crimes against them. Let us explore the numbers and shed light on the challenges affecting the safety of our younger generation.
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A majority of these cases related to kidnapping and abduction (45.7%), and 39.7% were filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
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As many as 1,62,449 crimes against children were registered during 2022, showing an increase of 8.7% (1,49,404 cases) compared to 2021.
Murder
The rate of murder per lakh population across India stood at 2.1, while the charge sheeting in such cases was 81.5. Uttar Pradesh saw the highest number of such FIRs at 3,491 in 2022.
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In 2022, India saw a total of 28,522 murder cases, averaging 78 killings daily or more than three every hour.
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The primary motives behind these cases were 'disputes' in 9,962 instances, followed by 'personal vendetta or enmity' in 3,761 cases and 'gain' in 1,884 cases, as reported by the National Crime Records Bureau under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
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This 2022 figure marked a decrease from 2021, when 29,272 murder cases were recorded).
Cybercrimes
Cybercrime poses a growing threat to illicit online activities in our digital era. Addressing the complexities of cybercrime is crucial to safeguarding the safety and security of individuals and organizations amidst technological advancements.
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In 2022, cybercrime cases in the national capital nearly doubled, indicating a 24% surge across India compared to 2021.
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The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reported a notable increase in economic offences (11%), crimes against senior citizens (9%), and crimes against women (4%).
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This alarming trend emphasizes the need for heightened awareness and protective measures against digital threats as the number of cybercrimes has drastically increased from 52,974 in 2021 to 65,893 in 2022.
Also read about Cyber Frauds in India: Overview & Redressal
Crimes under IPC
Last year in 2022, 58,24,946 crimes were reported, including 35,61,379 under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 22,63,567 under Special & Local Laws (SLL).
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This reflects a 4.5% decrease from 2021, with the crime rate per lakh population dropping from 445.9 to 422.2.
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Specifically, cases under IPC and SLL Crimes decreased by 2.8% and 7%, respectively. Kidnapping and abduction cases in 2021 rose by 5.8%, totalling 1,07,588 cases.
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Other crimes
Crimes Against Senior Citizens:
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In 2022, crimes against senior citizens (aged 60 and above) increased by 9%, with a total of 28,545 cases reported.
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This marks a 9.3% rise from the 2021 figures, indicating a concerning trend of harm towards older people.
Crimes Against Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST):
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Crimes against SCs witnessed a 13.1% increase, with 57,582 cases reported in 2022.
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Similarly, crimes against STs rose by 14.3%, totalling 10,064 cases, compared to the 2021 count of 8,802 points.
Economic Offences:
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Economic offences significantly increased, with 1,93,385 cases registered in 2022—an 11.1% increase from the previous year.
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Of these cases, 78.5% were filed under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act (4,403 cases), while 17.9% were filed under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), totalling 1,005 cases.
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These alarming statistics highlight the need for heightened awareness and preventive measures to address crimes against senior citizens, SCs, STs, and economic offences in our society.
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Previously, the number of cases registered for economic offences under IPC had increased from 1.14 lakh cases in 2012 to an all-time high of 1.74 lakh cases in 2021.
Analysis
It's concerning to see the NCRB Report 2022 showing a mixed picture of crime in our country. While some crimes have decreased, there are some red flags that we can't ignore. The significant increase of 24.4% in cybercrimes indicates that our online world isn't as safe as we might think. We must become more aware of how we use the internet to protect ourselves. Additionally, we need to strengthen our IT laws to ensure better safety measures.
Moreover, crimes against women and children demand more attention. Despite stricter criminal law amendments, this issue still needs to be addressed. We can suggest strengthening support services for victims, providing safe shelter homes, and making legal aid more accessible. We can also leverage technology to create safer environments, such as panic buttons in public spaces and enhanced surveillance systems.
The overall NCRB report clearly shows which areas our enforcement agencies must work on and what crimes need even more attention, by not compromising the other crimes that have declined.
Conclusion
In conclusion, having strict laws alone isn't enough to stop crimes against vulnerable groups like women & children. We need to work together and tackle this issue from different angles. Education, community involvement, better support services, and using technology wisely can all play a part. Police officers need special training, and our laws might require some changes, too. It's not only about what the numbers say; it's about creating a safer place for everyone.
You can also visit the official website of NCRB for more information.
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