Crimes against Scheduled Tribes (STs) increased 28.8 per cent in 2023 as compared to the previous year, with a total of 12,960 cases being registered across the country, up from 10,064 in 2022, according to the latest data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).Manipur, which has been grappling with ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since May 2023, emerged as the worst-affected state, accounting for 3,399 cases against STs. It had just one case registered under this category in 2022, and no case in 2021. “In crime against STs, 260 cases of dacoity were reported in 2023 in Manipur, 1,051 cases of arson, 203 cases of intentional insult or intimidation with intent to humiliate, 193 cases of occupy/ dispose of land belonging to STs,” it said.In comparison, crime against Scheduled Castes (SCs) showed a marginal increase of 0.4%, with a total of 57,789 cases being registered in 2023, from 57,582 cases in 2022. “A total of 12,960 cases were registered for committing crime against STs, showing an increase of 28.8 per cent as compared with 10,064 cases in 2022. Crime rate (per lakh population) registered increased from 9.6 in 2022 to 12.4 in 2023. In crime head-wise cases, highest number of cases – 2,757 cases, (21.3 per cent) were registered under the category of simple hurt, followed by riots with 1,707 cases (13.2 per cent) and rape with 1,189 cases (9.2 per cent),” the report said.According to the state-wise data, Madhya Pradesh reported the second-highest number of crimes against STs with 2,858 cases; the corresponding tally was 2,979 in 2022, and 2,627 in 2021. Next was Rajasthan with 2,453 cases in 2023, down from 2,521 cases in 2022, but up from 2,121 cases in 2021.The NCRB data for 2023, released on Monday, also showed that a total of 4,48,211 cases of crime against women were registered that year, marking an increase of 0.7% as compared to the 4,45,256 cases in 2022.“Majority of cases under crime against women were registered under cruelty by husband or relatives with 1,33,676 cases (29.8 per cent), kidnapping and abduction of women with 88,605 cases (19.8 per cent), followed by assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty with 83,891 cases (18.71 per cent)) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act with 66,232 cases (14.8 per cent). The crime rate registered per lakh women population was 66.2 in 2023 in comparison with 66.4 in 2022,” said the NCRB report.According to the report, a total of 1,77,335 cases of crime against children were registered in 2023, recording an increase of 9.2 per cent as compared to the 1,62,449 cases in 2022. “In percentage terms, major crime heads under crime against children in 2023 were kidnapping and abduction of children with 79,884 cases (45 per cent) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act with 67,694 cases (38.2 per cent)… The crime rate registered per lakh children population was 39.9 in 2023 in comparison with 36.6 in 2022,” the report said.Story continues below this adThe report also showed that a total of 31,365 cases were registered against juveniles in 2023, an increase of 2.7 per cent as compared to 2022 (30,555 cases). “A total of 40,036 juveniles were apprehended in 31,365 cases, out of which 34,674 juveniles were apprehended under cases of IPC and 5,362 juveniles were apprehended under cases of Special and Local Laws (SLL) in 2023. Majority of juveniles in conflict with law apprehended under IPC & SLL crimes were in the age group of 16 years to 18 years (79 per cent) (31,610 out of 40,036) in 2023,” the report said.Overall, a total of 7,33,983 people were arrested in 19 metropolitan cities in 2023. “A total of 4,90,297 persons were chargesheeted, 1,46,022 persons were convicted, 95,153 persons were acquitted and 12,932 persons were discharged. Amongst these 19 metropolitan cities, Kochi with 97.2 per cent, Kolkata with 94.7 per cent and Pune with 94 per cent are three top cities which recorded the highest chargesheeting rate under IPC crimes,” it said.