Crime in India: NCRB | 22 Oct 2019

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has recently released its annual ‘Crime in India’ report for the year 2017.

  • However, data of death due to mob lynching, murder by influential people, killing ordered by khap panchayat and murder committed for religious reason have not been published.
  • The new report has largely followed the pattern of the 2016 edition, barring additions in the category of cyber crimes and offences against the state.

Key Findings

  • Crime Registration and Rate:
    • In 2017, there was an increase of 3.6% in registration of cases over 2016.
    • Delhi witnessed the highest crime rate in the country with 1,050 Indian Penal Code (IPC) crime incidents per lakh of the city’s population.
    • This was over four times the national average of 238.
  • Offences against the State:
    • There has been a 30% rise in incidents of offences against the state as compared to 2016.
    • This category includes offences such as sedition, waging war against the country and damage to public property among others.
    • The maximum number of such offences were reported from Haryana followed by UP. The act of damage to public property was the leading reason.
    • Maximum offences were committed by the Left Wing Extremist (LWE) operatives, followed by North East insurgents and Terrorists (Jihadi and other elements).
  • Crime Against Women:
    • The number of crimes committed against women increased by 6% over the year 2016.
    • Majority cases were registered under ‘Cruelty by Husband or His Relatives’ followed by ‘Assault on Women with Intent to Outrage her Modesty’.
    • The maximum cases were registered in Uttar Pradesh (UP) followed by Maharashtra and West Bengal.
  • Cyber Crimes:
    • Bengaluru topped the list among metropolitan cities across the country in terms of number of cyber crimes registered.
    • Bengaluru was followed by Mumabi and Jaipur.
  • Riots:
    • Out of the total 58,880 incidents of rioting reported, communal and sectarian riots accounted for 723 and 183 incidents respectively.
    • There were 805 riots due to caste conflict and 1909 riots due to political reasons.
    • Maximum incidents were reported from Bihar, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
  • Crime Against SC/STs:
    • The incidents registered under the Scheduled Caste Prevention of Atrocities Act saw an increase from 5,082 incidents reported in 2016 to 5,775 in 2017.
    • Incidents of crime related to Scheduled Tribes dipped from 844 in 2016 to 720 in 2017.

National Crime Record Bureau

  • NCRB, headquartered in New Delhi, was set-up in 1986 under the Ministry of Home Affairs to function as a repository of information on crime and criminals so as to assist the investigators in linking crime to the perpetrators.
  • It was set up based on the recommendations of the National Police Commission (1977-1981) and the MHA’s Task Force (1985).
  • NCRB brings out the annual comprehensive statistics of crime across the country (‘Crime in India’ report).
    • Being published since 1953, the report serves as a crucial tool in understanding the law and order situation across the country.

Source: IE