The latest data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reveals a concerning trend for Odisha, which emerged as the national leader in violent crime rates for 2024.
The state also secured a grim second-place ranking regarding the rate of crimes committed against women.
The NCRB determines these rankings by calculating the number of victims or cases per 100,000 (lakh) people, utilizing mid-year population projections based on 2011 Census data.
The Surge in Violent Crime
Odisha topped the charts with 161.6 victims of violent offenses per lakh population, based on an estimated state population of 466.6 lakh.
This category encompasses severe crimes such as murder, kidnapping, and rape.
While Bihar reported the highest total volume of violent incidents due to its sheer size, its crime rate stood at 83 per lakh, placing it second behind Odisha.
In absolute figures, Odisha’s 75,403 cases ranked it fourth nationally, trailing:
Bihar: 1,07,303 cases
Maharashtra: 87,791 cases
Uttar Pradesh: 85,647 cases
Comparative Trends and Statistics
The 2024 data marks a dramatic escalation in violence within the state. After a notable decrease from 43,566 cases in 2022 to 31,749 in 2023, the total number of violent crimes in Odisha more than doubled within a single year.
Crimes Against Women (2024)
The safety of women also showed a declining trend. Total reported cases rose from 25,914 in 2023 to 27,449 in 2024.
