Telangana crime rate up 7.15% in 3 years; narcotics cases surge 46%
Synopsis
Telangana's three-year crime data reveals a state pulling in two directions: grave crimes and cybercrime are falling, but narcotics cases have surged 46%, organised crime has exploded 1,704%, and remote districts like Komaram Bheem Asifabad are recording crime spikes above 70%. The numbers, presented by DGP C. V. Anand, signal that policing wins on one front are being offset by deeper structural challenges on another.
Key Takeaways
Telangana's overall crime rate rose 7.15 per cent between 2023-24 and 2025-26 , with total cases climbing from 2,65,377 to 2,84,363 .
Narcotics cases surged 46.10 per cent — from 2,026 to 2,960 ; Warangal recorded a 142.31 per cent rise.
Organised crime cases rose from 25 to 451 — a 1,704 per cent increase over three years.
Grave crimes declined 10.33 per cent in 2025-26 ; Hyderabad commissionerate saw a 26.23 per cent drop.
Cybercrime fell 13.29 per cent and economic offences dropped 13.28 per cent over the same period.
Anand directed officers to go beyond statistics and analyse crime causes, modus operandi, and investigation quality.
The overall crime rate in Telangana rose by 7.15 per cent over three years from 2023 to 2026, with narcotics cases registering a sharp 46.10 per cent surge — emerging as the state police's most pressing challenge, according to data presented at a half-yearly crime review meeting on Friday, 28 August. The figures were disclosed by Director General of Police (DGP) C. V. Anand during a high-level review with senior officers across all units.
Overall Crime Trends
Total crime cases in Telangana climbed from 2,65,377 in 2023-24 to 2,84,363 in 2025-26. The crime rate per lakh population rose from 481.58 to 491.59 over the same period. Traffic crimes also increased, moving from 29,130 to 31,891 cases — a rise of 9.48 per cent.
On a more encouraging note, cybercrime declined from 25,373 to 22,000 cases, a reduction of 13.29 per cent, while economic offences fell from 37,690 to 32,684 — down 13.28 per cent.
Narcotics and Organised Crime: The Alarming Rise
Narcotics cases jumped from 2,026 in 2023-24 to 2,960 in 2025-26, with the crime rate per lakh population rising from 3.68 to 5.12. Among commissionerates, Cyberabad recorded a 90.98 per cent increase in narcotics cases — from 266 to 508 — while Warangal saw a staggering 142.31 per cent rise over the three-year period.
Organised crime cases recorded the most dramatic escalation, rising from just 25 to 451 — a 1,704 per cent increase. According to the DGP office release, these figures signal a structural shift in criminal activity that goes beyond opportunistic offending.
Grave Crimes Decline, Non-Grave Crimes Rise
Grave crimes declined significantly in 2025-26 compared to the previous year. Cases fell from 7,019 in 2024-25 to 6,294 in 2025-26, a 10.33 per cent reduction, with the crime rate per lakh population dropping from 11.21 to 10.88. Hyderabad led this improvement, recording a 26.23 per cent decline from 1,483 to 1,094 cases. Reductions were also recorded in Cyberabad (from 656 to 613) and Malkajgiri (from 664 to 549).
Non-grave crimes, however, continued to climb — from 2,59,201 in 2023-24 to 2,78,069 in 2025-26, a 7.28 per cent increase. Future City commissionerate recorded the highest rise at 23.70 per cent, followed by Cyberabad at 17.32 per cent and Malkajgiri at 13.53 per cent. Among districts, Komaram Bheem Asifabad recorded a 70.88 per cent surge, and Adilabad a 60.71 per cent rise.
What DGP C. V. Anand Directed
DGP C. V. Anand directed officers to move beyond statistical reviews toward in-depth analysis of crime causes, offender modus operandi, investigation quality, and case disposal. He stressed that crime reviews must not be reduced to a numbers exercise. Officers were instructed to identify emerging crime trends proactively and formulate targeted action plans.
The DGP also highlighted progress on the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS), noting that the data update rate had improved from a range of 70–80 per cent to 96 per cent. All Zonal DIGs and Multi-Zone IGs were directed to review inspection notes, and officers were told to act swiftly on issues flagged during district tours and police station inspections.
What These Numbers Signal
This is the first comprehensive three-year crime review under the current DGP, and the data presents a mixed picture. While the decline in grave crimes and cybercrime is a measurable policing win, the near-1,704 per cent rise in organised crime and the 46 per cent narcotics surge point to systemic challenges that targeted enforcement alone may not resolve. Notably, districts like Komaram Bheem Asifabad and Adilabad — geographically remote and historically under-policed — are recording disproportionate increases in non-grave crimes, suggesting resource allocation gaps. The state police's next steps on narcotics and organised crime will be closely watched.
Point of View
704 per cent rise in organised crime cases is the figure that deserves far more scrutiny than it is getting — a jump from 25 to 451 cases in three years is not a statistical blip, it is a structural shift. The narcotics surge, particularly in Warangal and Cyberabad, tracks a national pattern of urban drug network expansion that targeted enforcement has repeatedly failed to reverse sustainably. The decline in grave crimes is real and should be acknowledged, but framing it as a policing success while organised crime nearly doubled every year risks a dangerous complacency. The DGP's push for qualitative crime analysis over statistical compliance is the right instinct — the question is whether the institutional machinery beneath him can actually deliver it.
NationPress
28 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
By how much has crime increased in Telangana between 2023 and 2026?
The overall crime rate in Telangana rose by 7.15 per cent between 2023-24 and 2025-26, with total cases increasing from 2,65,377 to 2,84,363. The crime rate per lakh population moved from 481.58 to 491.59 over the same period.
Why have narcotics cases surged in Telangana?
Narcotics cases rose 46.10 per cent — from 2,026 in 2023-24 to 2,960 in 2025-26 — and have been flagged as a major challenge by DGP C. V. Anand. Cyberabad recorded a 90.98 per cent rise and Warangal a 142.31 per cent rise, suggesting that urban corridors are increasingly being used for drug distribution networks.
What is the scale of the organised crime increase in Telangana?
Organised crime cases in Telangana jumped from 25 in 2023-24 to 451 in 2025-26, a 1,704 per cent increase over three years. This is among the most dramatic escalations in the state's crime data and was highlighted during DGP C. V. Anand's half-yearly crime review on 28 August.
Have any crime categories declined in Telangana?
Yes. Grave crimes declined 10.33 per cent in 2025-26, with Hyderabad commissionerate recording a 26.23 per cent drop. Cybercrime fell 13.29 per cent and economic offences declined 13.28 per cent over the three-year period.
Which districts recorded the sharpest rise in non-grave crimes?
Komaram Bheem Asifabad recorded the highest rise at 70.88 per cent, followed by Adilabad at 60.71 per cent. Among commissionerates, Future City saw a 23.70 per cent increase, Cyberabad 17.32 per cent, and Malkajgiri 13.53 per cent.
