'Prema, Pranayam, Mosam': Andhra ranks 3rd in murders due to illicit relationship

As many as 853 murder cases were reported in 2020 against 870 in 2019.

National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2020 figures reveal Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra top the list with 195 and 183 murders respectively. Andhra Pradesh stands third with 168 murders.

Similarly, love affairs have led to as many as 22 killings in the state. NCRB- said over 22 percent, murders in the state are due to illicit relationships and love affairs.

Revenge, cheating, and extramarital affairs have spilled more blood than property disputes, enmity, political rivalry, and others.

A senior police officer said most of these killings are committed by either husbands or wives. "There were few cases in which a marital partner was killed by either husband or wife. Counseling is one of the solutions to prevent such crimes," he said.

Women are also no longer the self-sacrificing entity in modern society. "They are also giving in to their needs and desires by eliminating what they consider as obstacles to their happiness," the officer said.

The NCRB report also personal vendetta is the motive for 59 murders. As many as 91 murders were committed over the property disputes. Around 161 persons were murdered for family disputes.

Andhra Pradesh has seventh highest crime rate in India: NCRB

Andhra Pradesh has earned a dubious distinction by becoming the seventh state with the highest crime rate in the country.

National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report has revealed the overall crime rate in the state has increased by 63 percent in 2020.

Andhra Pradesh witnessed 2,38, 105 crimes. These include 1,88,997 crimes registered under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 49,108 crimes registered under Special and Local Laws (SLL) in 2020. The state witnessed a 58 percent increase in cognizable offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in 2020.

AP saw an 85 percent rise in the number of Special and Local Laws (SLL) cases in 2020.

The state saw a slight decrease in crime against women in 2020 with 17,089 cases reported. In 2019, a total of 17,746 cases of crime against women were reported. As many as 1,192 people including 587 minor girls were raped in 2020.

Crime against children slightly increased in 2020. Around 2,648 cases crime against children were reported in 2020 against 2,524 in 2019

Meanwhile, murder cases saw a decrease in the same period. The state witnessed 853 murder cases in 2020. A total of 870 murder cases were reported in 2019.

As per NCRB's data, disputes pertaining to property, family, petty issues, money, and water accounted for 391 murder cases followed by 168 cases of illicit relationships. Apart from that, personal vendetta or enmity were the cause for 59 murder cases.

The most common crimes against women were dowry harassment and cruelty by husbands. Sexual assault was the second-most common offence against women followed by rape.

AP saw a slight decrease in crimes against members of scheduled caste and SC communities in 2020. A total of 1,950 crimes were reported in this e category in 2020, while the number was 2,071 in 2019.

Crimes against members of scheduled tribes (ST) also decreased in 2020. Around 320 cases were registered in 2020 compared to 330 in 2019.

"Implementation of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act has been a major concern among Dalits and tribals," said Dalit activist K Venkata Ramana.