NCRB data: Crime decreased; clashes increased in year of lockdown
National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) released its report titled “Crime in India”. According to the report, the year of lockdown (2020) witnessed lesser traditional crimes like against women & children but more of civil conflicts.
Key findings of the report
- Communal Riots: It registered an increase of 96% in 2020 as compared to 2019.
- Caste Riots: It witnessed an increase of about 50%,
- Agrarian Riots: Increased by 38% and
- Riots during Andolar or Morcha: Increased by 33%.
- According to the report, due to complete lockdown in between March and May in 2020, number of cases of crimes against women, children & senior citizens; theft, robbery; burglary and dacoity, decreased by 2 lakhs.
- Murder cases registered a marginal hike of 1% while the cases in category of “violent crimes” decreased by 0.5%.
- Cases related to ‘Offences against the State’ also decreased by 27%. Only UP recorded an increase under this category because of large number of ‘Damage to Public Property’ cases registered by the state, especially during the anti- CAA protests.
Offences against state
‘Offences against the State’ comprise of cases related to sedition, waging war against the nation as well as cases under provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), Damage to Property Act & Official Secrets Act.
Communal Violence
- According to data, 2020 witnessed 857 cases of communal riots across India as compared to 438 in 2019. Most of these cases are from Northeast Delhi riots of February 2020. Delhi = registered 520 cases of communal riots.
- Bihar is at second place with 117 cases.
- Haryana and Jharkhand reported 51 cases
- They are followed by Maharashtra (26) and Gujarat (23).
- Uttar Pradesh did not witness a single case of communal violence.
Caste conflicts
Caste conflicts increased from to 736 in 2020 from 492 in 2019. Bihar recorded the highest number of 208. Bihar is followed by Maharashtra (125 cases), UP (116 cases), Karnataka (95 cases) and Tamil Nadu (69 cases).
Month: Current Affairs - September, 2021