In a recent revelation by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) on December 3, 2023, Kerala emerged with the highest charge sheeting rate for crimes under the Special and Local Laws (SLL), standing at a staggering 99.1%. Despite this alarming statistic, Kerala was only the fifth-highest in the country, according to the NCRB figures spanning from 2020 to 2022. The charge sheeting rate, representing the percentage of cases sheeted by the police among the total disposed of cases, sheds light on the state’s intricate crime dynamics.
The latest NCRB data shows a 4% rise in crimes against women.
— Congress (@INCIndia) December 6, 2023
Domestic violence, criminal acts and physical violence are on the rise.
Violence against women in public places will have a detrimental effect on the country and its economy!
Despite having helpline numbers, the… pic.twitter.com/we8Wh56Bhc
Kerala Tops Crime Charts
Notably, Kerala led the nation in crime rates per lakh population for offences against public tranquillity, rash driving, total cognizable offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and those under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The state reported 2,35,858 cognizable offences under the IPC in 2022, with a crime rate of 661 per lakh population, the highest in India.
Moreover, crimes against women in Kerala reached alarming levels, with the state recording the highest crime rate of 4,454,256 cases in 2022 across India. The majority of these cases, as per the NCRB data, were related to cruelty by husbands or relatives (31.4%), followed by kidnapping and abduction of women (19.2%), assault with the intent to outrage her modesty (18.7%), and rape (7.1%).
The above figures challenge the conventional narrative of Kerala as a socially progressive state and underscore the pressing need for comprehensive measures to address the root causes of such crimes.
Highest IPC crime rate among states, most IPC chargesheets filed — what NCRB data says about Kerala
— ThePrintIndia (@ThePrintIndia) December 6, 2023
Bismee Taskin @MainaBismee reports for ThePrinthttps://t.co/VUxalLiLx9
A Kerala doctor dies by suicide
Despite Kerala boasting an overall literacy rate of 94%, where both male and female literacy rates exceed 92%, the stark reality of crimes against women persists. The recent tragedy of a 26-year-old doctor named Sahana,who was in the department of surgery at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, who took her own life after her wedding was allegedly called off due to her family’s inability to meet certain demands[ dowry in the form of gold, land, and a BMW car] underscores the societal pressures women face beyond the data presented by the NCRB.
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This situation calls for a comprehensive approach involving education, law enforcement, mental health awareness, and support systems for victims. While high literacy rates reflect progress, tackling deeply rooted cultural and social issues requires concerted efforts from governments, NGOs, and communities. Initiatives promoting gender equality, public awareness campaigns, legal reforms, and accessible counselling services are crucial steps toward creating a safer and more supportive environment for all individuals facing challenges in Kerala.
