Bhubaneswar: Odisha recorded the highest number of assaults or criminal acts against women with intent to disrobe in 2023, with 1,978 cases under IPC Section 354B, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 1,750 cases, according to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report.
The state also ranked second in assaults on women with intent to outrage modesty, registering 5,937 cases under Section 354 of the IPC, while Rajasthan topped with 6,758 cases.
In terms of crime rate per lakh population, Odisha ranked first with 25.8 per cent, followed by Rajasthan at 17.1 per cent.
According to the report, the total number of crime cases registered under different sections of IPC and other laws increased to 1,99,954 in 2023 from 1,78,190 in 2022.
Crimes against women rose to 25,914 in 2023 from 23,648 in the previous year, while offences against children increased to 8,577 from 8,240 during the same period, the report added.
Odisha also topped in registration of disproportionate assets (DA) cases with 85, followed by Karnataka, where 84 such cases were registered in 2023.
The state, however, witnessed a sharp decline in murder and rape cases in 2023 compared to the previous year.
While 1,379 murder and 1,464 rape cases were registered in different police stations in 2022, the numbers declined to 1,362 and 1,195, respectively, in 2023.
The total number of cognisable IPC crime cases increased to 1,70,022 in 2023 from 1,43,414 in 2022, the report said.
PTI