Bhubaneswar: As many as 71,769 cases of crimes against women were registered at different police stations across Odisha between June 2024 and July 2026, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi informed the Assembly Monday.
In a written reply to a question by Congress MLA Sofia Firdous, Majhi said 18,013 cases of crimes against women were reported in the state between June and December 2024, while 32,687 such cases were registered in 2025.
Similarly, 21,069 cases involving crimes against women were registered this year till the end of July, he said.
The first BJP government in Odisha came to power in June 2024.
During the investigation of these cases, Police arrested 13,806 people, including 13,319 men and 487 women/transgenders, Majhi said.
Informing the Assembly about steps taken by the state government to strengthen the Investigative Units on Crime Against Women (IUCAW), the chief minister said standing instructions were issued this year on preventing mob lynching, illegal restraint and street harassment of women.
Important and sensitive cases involving women, including rape, rape of minors and acid attacks, are being monitored and supervised by district superintendents of police or officers of the rank of additional SP, he said.
During community policing programmes under the Ama Police Samiti initiative, women are encouraged to report their problems to the police freely and without fear, Majhi said.
The Children and Women Online Abuse Monitoring Unit, functioning under the Crime Branch, looks into cybercrimes against women, he said.
Investigative units on crimes against women are functioning in 29 districts and handling probes into important and sensitive cases, while another unit has been created for the newly formed Rairangpur police district.
CCTV cameras have been installed at public places in several districts to monitor the activities of anti-social elements, prevent crimes and promote women’s safety, Majhi said.
Special POCSO courts are functioning in 24 districts to fast-track trials in sexual offences against children, he said, adding that police were taking steps to improve patrolling at important public places to prevent sexual harassment of women.
On proposals to strengthen the investigation of crimes against women, Majhi said there was a proposal to establish an Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau in the state.
IUCAWs will also be created in Gajapati, Boudh, Deogarh, Nuapada and Malkangiri districts, he said.
A proposal has also been initiated to create Integrated Anti-Human Trafficking Units (IAHTU) in the newly formed Rairangpur police district, he added.