Spurt in crime incidents in 2023 as compared to 2022
The overall crime rate per lakh population in the state has increased to 291.50 in 2023 as compared to 277.88 in 2022. This has been revealed in the annual report of the State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB), CID, in which a comprehensive overview of crime trends across the state has been provided.
As per the report ‘Crime Review 2023’, a total of over 19,987 cognizable crimes were registered across the state. These crimes include both under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Special & Local Laws (SLL) crimes.
A total of 93 incidents of murder were reported in the year 2023, reflecting a spike of 9.41 per cent as compared to 2022. However, there was no change in the rate of attempt to murder cases as both 2022 and 2023 witnessed 74 such incidents.
Similarly, rape cases in the state also witnessed a rise of 4.17% in 2023. A total of 344 rape cases were reported during the year 2023. Additionally, cases of assault on women also witnessed a spike of 2.43 per cent with 504 such cases being reported in 2023. Out of these cases, Kangra district recorded the most number of cases of assault on women, which were 81 cases.
During the year 2023, a total 439 cases of kidnapping and abduction were reported which were 6.29 per cent more than 2022. Burglary and theft cases witnessed a rise of 2.84 per cent and 2.09 per cent in 2023 as compared to 2022. In 2022, total 506 cases of burglary and 655 cases of theft were registered across the state. Similarly, SLL crime rate per lakh population rose from 84.91 in 2022 to 94.53 in 2023.
Cases registered under Arms Act decreased by 17.24 per cent in 2023 as compared to 2022 while cases registered under NDPS Act witnessed a rise of 41.55 per cent in 2023 as compared to 2022. A Total 24 cases under Arms Act and 2,146 cases under NDPS Act were registered in 2023.
Cases of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act also rose by 8.20% in 2023 as total 211 such cases were reported in 2023. In 2023, cases of Forest Act witnessed a sharp rise of 41 % as compared to 2022 as total 141 cases were registered in 2023 under Forest Act.
