Juvenile crime cases rise by 2.7 pc in 2023; Delhi tops with highest rate: NCRB
New Delhi (PTI): A total of 31,365 cases were registered in the country against juveniles in 2023, marking a 2.7-per cent rise over 2022, with Delhi recording the highest crime rate at 41 per one-lakh children, according to the latest NCRB report.
Nationwide, the crime rate of juveniles increased from 6.9 in 2022 to 7.1 in 2023, according to the data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
The report also said a total of 40,036 juveniles were apprehended in 31,365 cases, including 34,674 under cases of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 5,362 under Special and Local Laws (SLL) cases, in 2023.
"Majority of juveniles in conflict with law apprehended under IPC and SLL crimes were in the age group of 16 years to 18 years (79 per cent) (31,610 out of 40,036) during 2023," the report said.
According to the report, several states showed a decline.
Madhya Pradesh, which led in absolute numbers with 3,619 cases in 2023 (down from 3,795 in 2022), and Maharashtra with 3,970 cases (down from 4,406) saw reductions.
However, Bihar reported a sharp jump from 1,052 to 1,818 cases and the number of cases in Tamil Nadu increased from 2,607 to 2,999.
Among the Union territories, Delhi accounted for the bulk at 2,278 cases, down from 2,340 in 2022 but still dominant.
When adjusted for child population, Delhi emerged as an outlier with a crime rate of 41.1 per one-lakh children -- far exceeding the national average of 7.1.
Other high-rate regions include Chandigarh (36.7), Puducherry (27.4), Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (20.3), and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (18.7).
States like Chhattisgarh (17.6) and Haryana (17.3) also rank high, while populous states such as Uttar Pradesh (1.8) and Bihar (3.8) have lower rates despite higher absolute numbers.
Offences affecting the human body totalled 11,967 cases, including 995 murders, 977 rapes and 1,476 attempts to commit murder. Hurt cases were the most common at 5,836, followed by kidnapping and abduction (931) and assaults on women with intent to outrage their modesty (811).
Property crimes dominated the IPC tally, with theft leading at 6,557 cases nationwide, burglary at 2,015 and robbery at 1,030.
Delhi alone saw 903 thefts and 210 robberies.
Other notable categories include 842 offences against public tranquillity, such as rioting (693), and 175 relating to documents and property marks like forgery and fraud.
Overall, states contributed 28,452 cases (a rate of 6.6), while Union territories added 2,913 (a rate of 25.2).
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BJP to resolve decades-old Gorkha issue within 6 months of forming govt in Bengal: Shah
Kurseong (WB) (PTI): Seeking to strike an emotional chord with the politically crucial hill electorate, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday promised that the BJP would resolve the decades-old Gorkha issue within six months if the BJP comes to power in West Bengal.
He said no party other than the BJP could find a solution acceptable to the Gorkhas.
Addressing a rally at Kurseong in Darjeeling district, Shah said the BJP understands the concerns and aspirations of the Gorkhas and would work towards a settlement on their terms.
"Within six months of the BJP forming the government in West Bengal, every Gorkha will have a smile on his face. We will find such a solution to the Gorkha issue that Gorkhas can live in peace," he said.
The Gorkha issue refers to the century-old demand for a separate state in the Gorkha-majority hill districts of north Bengal, although Shah did not utter the words 'Gorkhaland' or 'statehood' in his speech.
Instead, echoing the BJP's long-standing promise of a "permanent political solution" to the hill question, Shah said the issue would be resolved in accordance with the aspirations of the Gorkhas.
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"I am leaving today after promising you that as soon as the BJP government is formed, the decades-old Gorkha issue will be resolved according to the Gorkhas' terms," he said.
The BJP, which has won the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat in every election since 2009, has consistently promised a permanent political solution to the hill issue without committing itself to a separate state.
The home minister accused the Mamata Banerjee government of refusing to engage with efforts to resolve the issue and said that after becoming home minister, he had convened three meetings on the matter.
"After becoming home minister, I convened three major meetings to resolve the Gorkha issue, but not even once did a representative from Mamata's side attend," Shah said.
"Mamata Didi, we are not dependent on you for a solution to the Gorkha issue. We have appointed an interlocutor who is preparing a report by engaging with Gorkha organisations here and officials of the West Bengal government," he added.
Claiming that the BJP alone understands the concerns of the hill residents, Shah said, "We understand you and your problems. No one except the BJP can resolve the Gorkha issue."
The home minister alleged that the Congress and the TMC had betrayed the people of the hills for decades.
"The Congress and the TMC have done injustice not only to Darjeeling but also to our patriotic Gorkha brothers," he said.
Seeking to broaden the BJP's pitch beyond the Gorkha issue, Shah sought to portray the election as a battle to free north Bengal and the hills from what he called years of neglect and injustice under the TMC rule.
"This election is to free the entire West Bengal from TMC's crimes. In a way, it is an election to gain freedom from the injustice happening for decades in north Bengal and Darjeeling," he said.
Referring to the Sandeshkhali controversy, Shah said, "The whole of West Bengal has decided that it is time for Didi to step down. This election is about protecting our sisters across the state. The Sandeshkhali incident has brought shame to the state."
The BJP leader told the gathering that while Darjeeling had repeatedly backed the BJP, the party needed support from the rest of West Bengal this time.
"For three elections, Darjeeling has been voting for the BJP anyway, but the rest of West Bengal did not provide as much support. But this time, the whole of West Bengal has made up its mind that it's time to oust Didi," he said.
Shah also raised the issue of Gorkhas' names being allegedly deleted from the electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
"The names of some Gorkhas were deleted during SIR. Once the BJP government is formed in West Bengal, all such names will be included in the electoral rolls again," he said.
He further alleged that hundreds of false cases had been slapped on Gorkha activists and promised that these would be withdrawn if the BJP formed the government.
"They have filed hundreds of false cases against our Gorkha brothers and sisters. The results will come out on May 4, and a BJP government will be formed on May 5. Before July 31, the BJP government in West Bengal will withdraw all cases against Gorkha brothers and sisters," Shah said.
The home minister also attacked the Mamata Banerjee government over budgetary allocations for the tribals.
"For tribal development, for Adivasis, for the hills, and for north Bengal, the Mamata government's total budget is Rs 2,000 crore. But for Muslims and madrasas, the Mamata government's budget is Rs 5,800 crore. This injustice will not last much longer," he said.
The demand for Gorkhaland and greater political autonomy for the Darjeeling hills has remained one of the most enduring and emotive political issues in north Bengal, often shaping electoral outcomes in the region.
Successive agitations -- from the Subhash Ghising-led GNLF movement in the 1980s to the later stir spearheaded by Bimal Gurung and the GJM, have repeatedly convulsed the hills.
Yet, despite the BJP's rise in Darjeeling and its continued dominance in the Lok Sabha seat since 2009, the party has so far stopped short of endorsing a separate state as it would have an adverse impact on south Bengal, preferring instead to speak of a "permanent political solution".
