Chandigarh tops India in rape crime rate: NCRB 2024 data
Among rape cases recorded in UT during 2024, the highest number belonged to the 18-30 age group with 35 cases.
In 2024, Chandigarh registered a total of 96 rape cases, as per the NCRB. Chandigarh has recorded the highest rape crime rate in the country, with 16 women and girls falling victim to rape per one lakh population, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, 2024, released Wednesday.
The NCRB calculates crime rate on the basis of the number of cases registered per lakh population. As per the estimates of the National Commission on Population, Chandigarh’s population has been pegged at around 12.5 lakh, including nearly 5.82 lakh women and girls.
In 2024, Chandigarh registered a total of 96 rape cases — 73 under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 23 under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Though the absolute number of rape cases in Chandigarh is lower compared to many larger states, the UT’s crime rate is the highest in the country due to its smaller population base.
Chandigarh with the highest rape rate stood at 16.6, Goa ranked second with a rape crime rate of 13.3 — with 105 registered rape cases in 2024, while Rajasthan stood third with a rape rate of 12.2.
Most victims aged between 18 and 30
Of the 96 rape victims recorded in Chandigarh during 2024, the highest number belonged to the 18-30 age group with 35 registered cases, the NCRB data said.
The NCRB also showed that 30 cases involved girls aged between 12 and 16 years. Women aged between 30 and 45 years accounted for 14 cases.
Four rape cases involved children aged between six and 12 years, while 13 cases were reported in the 16-18 age group.
Crimes against women rise steadily
The NCRB report also pointed to a sharp rise in crimes against women in Chandigarh over the past three years. While 325 cases of crimes against women were registered in 2022, the figure rose to 371 in 2023 and further increased to 452 in 2024.
Apart from the 96 rape cases, the city recorded 162 cases of cruelty by husband or relatives, three dowry death cases, 11 cases of sexual harassment, 138 kidnapping cases, and seven cases of assault on women.
Chandigarh also witnessed an increase in overall crime in 2024. The city registered 3,621 criminal cases in 2024 against 3,285 cases in 2023.
In comparison, 2,941 criminal cases were registered in 2022.
Of the total cases registered in 2024, 2,391 were under the IPC while 1,230 were registered under the BNS.
Among Union Territories, Chandigarh recorded the second-highest overall crime rate at 290.4 cases per lakh population. Delhi which recorded a crime rate of 1,258.5 stood at first. Puducherry ranked third with a crime rate of 207.4.
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