Rape, abuse, fraud, cybercrime: NCRB data reveals disturbing crime trends in Telangana

Hyderabad: Telangana has emerged as a hotspot for several categories of high-profile crimes in 2023.

The latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data highlights disturbing trends ranging from cybercrime and forgery to crimes against women, human trafficking, and food adulteration.

Juvenile and Child-Related Cases

Telangana registered 347 cases under the Juvenile Justice Act, the second highest in India after Rajasthan (443).

The state recorded the highest crime rate in this category at 3 per lakh population, compared to 1.6 per one lakh in Rajasthan.

It stood third under the Child Labour Act, with 168 cases and 202 victims.

Overall, 3,702 child-related cases were registered in 2023.

Cybercrime up 19%

Cybercrime cases rose to 18,236 in 2023, up from 15,297 in 2022.

Charge-sheeting remained low at 20.9%, against the national average of 33.7%.

Cyberstalking/bullying: 263 cases.

Fake news: 90 of India’s 209 cases came from Telangana.

Police disposed of 11,682 cybercrime cases during the year.

Forgery and Financial Frauds

Telangana topped India in forgery, cheating, and fraud, with 16,000 cases affecting 16,954 victims.

Bank frauds: 1,897 cases.

ATM thefts in Hyderabad: 700 cases, 156 victims.

Debit/Credit card frauds: 855 cases, 861 victims.

Property mark/document frauds: 5,500 cases, all in Hyderabad.

Hyderabad alone accounted for 4,000 forgery/cheating cases, the highest among 16 metro cities.

Communal and Arms Offences

Hyderabad topped metro cities in cases under Section 151A (promoting enmity) and 153AA (carrying arms in processions).

Hyderabad recorded 47 cases, compared to Coimbatore (26), Bengaluru (22), Pune (18), and Delhi (17).

Decline in Farmer Suicides

A significant fall was recorded in farmer suicides:

2022: 178 cases.

2023: 56 cases (54 men, 2 women).

Telangana 5th in Suicides

10,580 suicides in 2023, a 6% rise from 9,500 in 2022.

Suicide rate: 27.7, the fifth highest in India.

Victims: 8,226 men, 2,342 women, 2 transgender persons.

Road accidents claimed 7,660 lives.

Adulterated Food and Drugs

Telangana once again topped the charts in food/drug adulteration cases:

382 of 565 national cases came from the state, with 387 victims.

Hyderabad alone reported 218 cases.

Notably, no cases were booked under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.

In 2022, the state reported a staggering 1,631 adulteration cases.

Crimes Against Women

NCRB data shows at least two women raped daily in Telangana during 2023.

Rape cases: 817, with offenders known to victims in 815.

Repeat rape: 221 cases.

Gang rape: 8 cases.

Assault on modesty: 5,004 cases.

Insult to modesty: 957 cases.

Kidnapping/abduction of women: 2,152 cases, including 97 forced marriage kidnappings.

Human Trafficking and Exploitation

298 trafficking cases and 76 cases of procuration of minor girls were registered.

Under Section 370A IPC (exploitation of trafficked persons):

Andhra Pradesh led with 68 cases, 96 victims.

Telangana stood second with 30 cases, 65 victims (53 in Hyderabad).

Together, the Telugu states accounted for 80% of such crimes nationwide.

POCSO and Crimes Against Children

3,154 cases under the POCSO Act were registered in 2023.

28 cases involved child pornography.

Convictions and Acquittals (2022 Data)

14 murders with rape

145 dowry deaths

401 abetments to the suicide of women

10,518 cruelty cases by husbands/relatives

Outcomes: 995 convicted, 8,663 acquitted.