Communal riots up, crimes against women down in 2020: NCRB

New Delhi: Though the traditional crimes like robbery, assault on women and children were reported relatively diminutive in 2020 due t the COVID related national lockdown in India, the communal and caste-based riots were seen a significant rise, reported The Indian Express, referring to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

The latest report released by the NCRB on 'Crime In India' showed that the communal riots rose by 96% in 2020 as compared to the previous year in the country, while the caste-based clashes registered a 50% increase and agrarian riots 38% and riots during 'Andolan/morcha' increased by 33%.

The offences that come under 'violent crimes' decreased by 0.5% in 2020, while there had been a marginal rise in murder of 1%. Crimes against women, children and seniors citizens, theft, robbery, dacoity and other similar crimes were found have dropped by 2 lakh, according to the NCRB report.

The offences considered to be against the state also saw a decline by 27% as against 2019, and UP is the only state in the country that registered an increase of crimes in this category. It is because of the large number of cases under 'Damage to Public Property' registered against people in connection with the anti-CAA protests.

The cases registered in the 'Offences against the State' category also included sedition and waging war against the nation, and those falling under provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

According to the NCRB data, 2020 saw 857 cases of communal riots being registered across the country as compared to 438 in 2019. Most of the 2020 cases are attributed to the Northeast Delhi riots of February last year. Delhi Police alone registered 520 cases of communal riots in the year.

"The country remained under complete lockdown from 25th March 2020 and 31st May 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic (first wave), during which time movement in public space was very limited. The cases registered under crimes against women, children and senior citizens, theft, burglary, robbery and dacoity have therefore declined, whereas COVID related enforcement has resulted in an increase of cases registered under 'Disobedience to order duly promulgated by Public Servant (Sec. 188 IPC)', under 'Other IPC Crimes' and under 'Other State Local Acts,'" the report said.

Under crimes against women, the majority of cases were registered under 'cruelty by husband or his relatives (30.0%) followed by 'assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty (23.0%), 'kidnapping and abduction of women (16.8%) and 'rape' (7.5%).

Kerala recorded 637 rape cases and 59 attempts to commit rape cases, Karnataka recorded 504 cases of rape and 11 cases of rape attempt, Tamil Nadu recorded 389 rape cases and 15 attempts to rape cases. And Puducherry recorded eight cases of rape and zero cases of a rape attempt.