NEW DELHI: Uttra Pradesh, West Bengal and Maharashtra reported the highest number of crimes against women in 2015, according to data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) on Tuesday.
Uttar Pradesh reported 35,527 cases in 2015, or 10.9 per cent of the total such crimes in India. It was followed by West Bengal with 33,218 cases, or 10.1 per cent of the total crimes against women in the country. Maharashtra reported 31,126 such crimes. At least nine cases of crimes against women were reported from Lakshadweep.
According to the NCRB report, the overall number of crimes recorded against women in all the states and Union Territories decreased from 3.37 lakh in 2014 to 3.27 lakh in 2015.
A total of 34,651 rape cases (Section 376 of IPC) were reported in 2015. In 2014, a total of 36,735 rape cases were reported from the states. According to a 2015 report, among the states Madhya Pradesh reported 4,391 cases, Maharashtra 4,144, Rajasthan 3,644 and UP 3,025.
As many as 2,016 cases of gang-rape were reported in 2015 from all the states and Union Territories. Among Union Territories, Delhi reported the highest number of crimes against women with 17,104 cases in 2015, followed by Chandigarh at 463.
A total of 2,199 rape cases were reported from Delhi last year, followed by 72 in Chandigarh and 36 in A&N Islands. The NCRB data suggests that at least in 95.5 per cent rape cases, offenders were known to the victims. It says, of the total 34,651 rape cases reported last year, at least in 33,098 cases, offenders were known to the victims including relatives, neighbours and employers.
Offenders in only 1,553 cases were not identified by the victims.
Assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty (Section 354 of IPC) is the major crime committed against women across the country with a total of 82,422 cases reported in 2015.
The maximum number of 11,713 cases were reported from Maharashtra, followed by Madhya Pradesh which reported 8,049 cases.