Nagpur: A marginal decline in overall crimes against women in 2024 was overshadowed by the fact that Nagpur city continues to rank among top (worst) five metropolitan cities in India for rape cases, according to latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report.While the NCRB figures indicate that women in the city remain exposed to significant daily risks, Nagpur Police have contested the interpretation of the data. Senior police officials said a large proportion of reported rape cases involve complaints filed against estranged partners or acquaintances.“Nearly 90% of rape cases are registered by women or girls against known persons, including former boyfriends, which inflates the statistics. Nagpur Police maintain a zero-tolerance approach towards crimes against women,” a senior officer said.Another senior official pointed to a pattern of cases being filed following relationship breakdowns. “There is a trend of women lodging rape complaints after break-ups, particularly when the man is about to marry someone else. Even in such cases, police take immediate and appropriate action,” the officer said, emphasising that cases involving minors are treated with the utmost seriousness.Although the number of sexual violence cases involving minors is relatively lower, police said their gravity remains a concern. “Such cases are more severe in nature, which is why campaigns and awareness drives are regularly undertaken,” the official added.In 2024, Nagpur recorded 1,513 crimes against women, down slightly from 1,556 cases in 2023 – a decline of 2.76%. However, this figure remains much higher than 1,259 cases reported in 2022. The city’s crime rate against women stood at 123.8, placing Nagpur seventh among 19 major metropolitan cities in India.Rape statistics remain particularly alarming. Nagpur reported 136 rape cases in 2024, with a crime rate of 11.1, ranking fifth among metropolitan cities. This highlights the persistence of sexual violence in the city despite repeated awareness campaigns and policing measures.Sexual harassment cases also present a serious concern. With 96 reported cases and a crime rate of 37.9, Nagpur ranked third among major cities, behind only Kochi and Kanpur. Such incidents are frequently reported in workplaces, educational institutions, public transport and on streets, adding to daily stress and insecurity for women.Cases of outraging modesty of women continued at a high level. The city recorded 146 such cases involving 147 victims, translating into a crime rate of 11.9 and placing Nagpur fifth among metropolitan cities.Domestic violence remains another major challenge. In 2024, 294 cases of cruelty by husbands or relatives, affecting 296 victims were reported. The crime rate for this category stood at 24.1, placing Nagpur ninth nationally.Human trafficking for immoral purposes further added to the concern. The city reported 16 such cases involving 40 victims, with a crime rate of 1.3, ranking Nagpur fourth among metropolitan cities.Experts believe stronger policing, faster court trials, better security in public places and effective awareness programmes are urgently needed to make the city safer for women. “The NCRB figures serve as a wake-up call for authorities to take immediate and concrete steps to improve women’s safety and restore public confidence,” said an activist.
