Data Source: ‘Crimes in India’ (Various Years), National Crime Records Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Images in Plot Area: pixabay.com
• ‘Kidnapping & Abduction’ lead IPC Crimes
• NCRB data highlights 1 case of ‘Infanticide’
Moa Jamir
Dimapur | September 3
In 2021, ‘Crime against children’ in Nagaland jumped by over 77% over the previous year according to the latest report released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
As per the report, a total of 55 cases were registered under ‘crime against children’ in the State in 2021, up from 31 in 2020. The NCRB report is compiled as per data provided by States or Union Territories (UTs).
However, in terms of absolute numbers, Nagaland had the lowest cases among the States in India, and only the Union Territories (UTs) of Puducherry (50) and Lakshadweep (26) were lower than the State. It signified 6.2 children per 1 lakh population with a chargesheeting rate of 80.4.
The offences included those committed under Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Special and Local Laws (SLL).
In a more concerning note, however, further analysis of the report highlighted that the rise in crime against children was propelled by cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 enacted to ’protect children from offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography and provide for establishment of Special Courts for trial of such offences and related matters and incidents.’
In 2021, offences under POCSO Act in Nagaland nearly doubled from 18 to 31, the highest since 2017, when there were 41 cases. It denotes over 72.22% surge from 2020.
Incidentally, analysis of NCRB reports over the years reflected that crime against children was highest in 2017 at 93, with nearly half of the cases (41) registered under POCSO.
Crime against children saw a decline thereafter till 2020, before rising in 2021. (See Graph)
Types of crimes
Apart from POCSO, the most prominent crimes against children were ‘kidnapping and abduction’ involving 10 incidents and 11 victims under IPC. There were 11 such cases in 2020.
Under IPC Crimes against Children, there were 2 cases of grievous hurt as well as 2 designated as other crimes and 1 each for Murder, Exposure and Abandonment, and Simple Hurt.
Incidentally, the 2021 report highlighted that there was one case of ‘Infanticide’.
Overall, there were a total of 18 IPC crimes against children, indicating a crime rate of 2.2 per lakh population, against the national average of 20.4.
Meanwhile, under the POCSO Act which is an SLL crime, out of 31 cases, all the 33 victims were girls.
Accordingly, the rate of crime was 3.8 per lakh population against the All-India rate of 12.1.
There were also 2 offences under Juveniles Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act.
The cases under POCSO are reflected in the overall ‘Crime against Women’ in Nagaland in 2021, which saw a 38.46% jump over 2020. It increased from 39 in 2020 to 54 in 2021.
While it is not known whether the increase in cases was due to more reportage or jump in incidences, the report indicated ‘worrisome’ trend in Nagaland and more proper study is needed.
Crime against children up by 16.2% across India
Meanwhile, across India, total of 1,49,404 cases of crime against children were registered during 2021, showing an increase of 16.2% over 2020 (1,28,531 cases), the report stated.
In percentage terms, major crime heads under ‘Crime against Children’ during 2020 were Kidnapping & Abduction (45.0%) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (38.1%) including child rape.
The crime rate registered per lakh children population is 33.6 in 2021 in comparison with 28.9 in 2020.
