Cases registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act registered a nine per cent growth in 2023 compared to the previous year in Himachal Pradesh and made for 13.2 per cent of the total FIRs registered in the state, according to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data. As per the NCRB report, Himachal Pradesh Police registered 229 FIRs pertaining to atrocities against Scheduled Castes (SCs) in the year 2023, compared to 210 cases in 2022, and 244 in 2021. The state had registered 13,505 FIRs in 2023, against 13,231 in 2022, and 13,041 in 2021. In 2023, out of the 229 FIRs, 204 were registered under the Prevention of Atrocities Act, while 25 were registered in conjunction with various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Of the 204 standalone cases, 116 fell under the category of “intentionally insulting or intimidating with intent to humiliate,” shows the NCRB data. The report highlights disturbing instances, including two where victims were prevented from using public places and one case where a victim was forced to vacate their residence and was socially boycotted. As per the NCRB report, the cases registered along with sections of IPC included for murder (two); attempt to murder (one); assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty (nine); stalking (three); kidnapping/abduction (one); rape of women (seven) and rape of children under POCSO Act (two). In absolute numbers, seven cases were registered in 2023 under Prevention of Atrocities Act against people belonging to Scheduled Tribe (ST), compared to four in 2022, and seven in 2021. As per the NCRB, the chargesheet ratio wherein suspects booked or arrested in the cases of atrocities against SC people was recorded 61 percent in 2023. Expressing concern over the NCRB report, member of Himachal Pradesh Scheduled Caste Commission, Vijay Dogra, said, "The numbers are alarming. There are certain areas, especially the upper reaches in districts including Shimla, Sirmour, Kullu and Mandi, where casteism is still prevalent”.
