In Short
- State saw 43% rise in crimes against women between 2021, 2022
- NCRB data shows 621 reported rape cases in state in 2022
- Kalyan attributed the rise in violent crimes to the “vile legacy” of the previous YSRCP administration
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan tore into the previous state government under the YSR Congress Party for the rise in crime in the state. Data provided by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) supported Kalyan’s claim as it indicated a significant rise in crimes against women and children in 2022.
This gives weight to Kalyan’s criticism of the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government for fostering “a culture of impunity” that has led to this disturbing trend.Latest report by the NCRB revealed that Andhra Pradesh recorded 25,503 cases of crime against women in 2022 when compared with 2021’s 17,752 cases. This is a stark rise of 43 per cent, with the state ranking sixth in the country for such offences. Among the other reported crimes against women, 11,964 were related to cruelty by husbands or relatives, with the NTR district in Andhra Pradesh alone accounting for 1,204 incidents
Kalyan attributed the rise in violent crimes to the “vile legacy” of the previous administration. “The increase in crimes against women, especially heinous acts like rape and domestic violence, is a direct consequence of the past leaders’ failure to maintain law and order,” he said.
The data also highlighted other serious concerns, including eight reported cases of rape-and-murder, 100 dowry deaths, and 621 rape cases, with 458 victims aged between 18 and 30 years. Visakhapatnam district reported the highest number of rape cases at 69, followed by NTR district with 51. Kalyan expressed his outrage, questioning, “What kind of example are we setting for future generations when women and children are not safe in their own homes?”
While some officials have noted that more women are coming forward to report crimes, citing initiatives like the Disha SOS app and Mahila Police, Kalyan remains sceptical of the effectiveness of these measures. He insisted that without a robust system of accountability and stringent enforcement, these efforts would not be enough to combat the rising tide of violence against women and children.
The NCRB data further indicated that Andhra Pradesh also faced challenges in cybercrime, ranking fifth in the country with 2,341 cases, including significant instances of online banking and OTP frauds. Kalyan called for a comprehensive approach to safety and security, urging the government to take cues from countries like Singapore and Dubai, where stringent laws act as effective deterrents against crime.
