New Delhi, September 16, 2021: : As many as 77 rape cases were reported across India on an average every day in 2020, totalling to 28,046 such incidents during the year. The Indian National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data showed overall, 3,71,503 cases of crime against women were reported in India last year.
Of the total cases of crimes against women in 2020, there were 28,046 incidents of rape involving 28,153 victims, according to the NCRB data for the year, which witnessed COVID-19 outbreak and pandemic-induced lockdowns.
Out of the total victims, 25,498 were adults, while 2,655 were below the age of 18 years, the NCRB, which functions under the Indian Home Ministry stated.
Among states and Union Territories, the maximum 5,310 rape cases were lodged in Rajasthan in 2020 followed by Uttar Pradesh (2,769), Madhya Pradesh (2,339), Maharashtra (2,061) and Assam (1,657).
In Indian capital Delhi logged 997 such cases during the year, the data showed
Of the total crimes against women last year, the maximum 1,11,549 were under the category of 'cruelty by husband or relatives,' while there were 62,300 cases of kidnapping and abduction also, it showed.
Besides rape, there were 85,392 cases of 'assault to outrage modesty' and 3,741 cases of 'attempt to commit rape,' the NCRB data showed. There were 105 cases of acid attack logged during 2020, it added.
The NCRB stated that there were 88,590 total victims in 84,805 cases of kidnapping and abduction last year. Of these, the majority 56,591 victims were children while the remaining were adults, it added.
The Coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown resulted in a drop in traditional crimes like theft, robbery, and assault on women and children in 2020, but there was a drastic jump in disobedience to government orders, primarily arising due to violations of COVID-19 norms, official data showed.
India remained under complete lockdown from March 25 to May 31, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic (first wave), during which movement in public space was very limited. Agencies