New Delhi: The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) released the annual crime report, and the Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI) report, on Sunday, December 3, when the results of the Assembly elections in four states were announced.
Last year, it was published in August.
According to the Hindu, the report provides a comprehensive overview of the crime scenario in India in 2022, including the number of sudden deaths, suicides, crimes against women, children, etc.
The overall crime rate declined from 7% in 2021 to 6.9% in 2022, the newspaper reported, citing the NCRB report.
However, crimes against specific categories, including women, children, SC, ST, and cyber crimes, increased compared to 2021.
Sudden deaths
There was an 11.6% increase in the number of “sudden deaths” reported across the country, the ADSI report said.
At least 56,653 sudden deaths were reported in 2022, with heart attacks accounting for 32,410 deaths. Other reasons were attributed for 24,243 deaths.
The age group of 45-60 years reported the maximum number of deaths (19,456).
According to a study by the Indian Council of Medical Research and Registrar General of India, India accounts for approximately 60% of the world’s heart disease burden.
Suicides and accidental deaths
Suicides increased to 1,70,924 in 2022 compared to 1,64,033 in 2021, the report said.
Accidental deaths also increased to 4,30,504 in 2022 compared to 3,97,530 in 2021, it added.
According to IndiaSpend, India reported the highest suicide rate in its history in 2021, with 12 suicides for every 100,000 people. But the numbers could be higher.
In September 2022, a psychiatrist had told IndiaSpend that there are several reasons why India might be underreporting suicides. These are lack of medical certification of deaths, stigma associated with mental health, and criminalisation, not just in terms of reporting of sucides but sometimes also in the denial of insurance if the death is by suicide.
Crimes against women
At least 4,45,256 cases of ‘crimes against women’ were registered in 2022, showing a 4% increase from 2021, the newspaper reported.
Major cases included cruelty by husband or his relatives, kidnapping and abduction of women, assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty, and rape.
A 2022 BBC report, citing the World Health Organization, said that one in three women globally face gender-based violence and the numbers for India are similar.
The report noted that India recorded the highest number of crimes against women ever in 2021. It’s a rise of 26.35% over six years since 2016.
Crimes against children
At least 1,62,449 cases of crimes against children were registered in 2022, reflecting an 8.7% increase from 2021, the daily said.
Kidnapping and abduction and crimes under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act were prominent.
Other crimes
Crimes against senior citizens, Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and economic offences showed a massive increase.
“A total of 28,545 cases were registered for committing crimes against senior citizens (above 60 years), showing an increase of 9.3% over 2021 (26,110 cases),” the newspaper reported.
“A total of 57,582 cases were registered for committing crimes against SCs, showing an increase of 13.1% over 2021 (50,900 cases),” it said.
“A total of 10,064 cases were registered for committing crime against Scheduled Tribes (ST), showing an increase of 14.3% over 2021 (8,802 cases),” it added.
At least 1,93,385 cases were registered under economic offences – an 11.1% increase from 2021, it said.
Under cyber crimes, 65,893 cases were registered, showing a 24.4% increase in registration from 2021.
“During 2022, 64.8% of the cyber crime cases registered were with the motive of fraud (42,710 out of 65,893 cases) followed by extortion at 5.5% (3,648 cases), and sexual exploitation at 5.2% (3,434 cases). A total of 5,610 cases were registered in 2022 as compared with 5,164 cases in the year 2021, showing an increase of 8.6%,” the daily reported.
Out of 5,610 cases, 78.5% of cases were registered under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act (4,403 Cases) followed by 1,005 (17.9%) cases under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
This article is originally published on The Wire.
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