Chennai, Oct 1 (NationPress) The recently published Crime in India 2023 report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), which was delayed for over a year, presents a complex scenario for the law and order situation in Tamil Nadu. While there has been a significant rise in crimes targeting Dalits and children, the state has managed to record a decrease in homicides and other violent crimes, resulting in an overall crime rate that remains slightly beneath the national average.

According to the findings, Tamil Nadu's crime rate stands at 264.9 per lakh population for 2023, compared to India's rate of 270.3. Notably, incidents reported under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act witnessed a 9.1 percent increase, escalating from 1,761 in 2022 to 1,921 in 2023.

Over the past five years, there’s been a staggering 68 percent rise in such cases, from 1,144 in 2019 to 1,921 last year, with a sharp 27.9 percent spike observed in 2022 alone.

The number of crimes against children also saw an uptick, with 6,968 cases filed in 2023, up from 6,580 in 2022 and 6,064 in 2021. Chennai mirrored this trend, with child-related crime cases increasing from 514 to 573. In contrast, crimes against women experienced a slight decline, dropping to 8,943 cases in 2023 from 9,207 the previous year.

The total number of murders in Tamil Nadu saw a minor reduction, falling from 1,690 to 1,681 cases, although Chennai reported a slight increase, rising from 101 to 105.

Overall, violent crimes—including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, grievous hurt, infanticide, and attempts to murder—dropped from 12,325 to 11,302 cases.

Kidnapping and abduction cases experienced one of the sharpest declines, plummeting from 737 to 496. Crimes against senior citizens also decreased, from 2,376 cases in 2022 to 2,104 in 2023, although Chennai saw a slight rise from 391 to 399 cases.

Conversely, certain alarming categories witnessed growth. Juvenile crimes increased from 2,607 to 2,999, while cyber crimes and offenses reported by the Railway Protection Force and other state agencies also escalated.

Experts emphasize that these statistics reflect both advancements and ongoing challenges. While the reduction in violent crime and improvements in women’s safety are positive signs, the significant increase in cases against Dalits and children highlights urgent deficiencies in social protection and targeted law enforcement. They propose that this data should inform enhanced community outreach and faster response strategies.