The crime rate in Karnataka saw a marginal decline in 2024 compared to 2023, according to data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) on Wednesday. Bengaluru, too, recorded a drop in crime rate. However, it remains marginally higher than the number of cognisable crimes registered in 2022.

Violent crime goes up

However, the rate of violent crimes in the State and Bengaluru has gone up, data indicates. 

NCRB clubs rape, attempt to rape, foeticide, infanticide, dowry deaths, murder, culpable homicide, attempt to murder, attempt to culpable homicide, hurt, kidnapping and abduction, rioting, robbery, dacoity and arson as violent crimes. 

A senior police official said that the data indicated that the most violent crimes like murder and abduction had come down, and rape cases remained high due to cases being registered in cases of minor elopement.

“Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, came into force midway through 2024. Certain definitions changed. This could have led to some distortion of data, and it will be difficult to compare data from 2023 and 2024,” he said.

Low chargesheeting rate 

NCRB data shows the chargesheeting rate is low in the State, particularly in Bengaluru. It is pegged at 72.9% for the State and 54.4% in Bengaluru, which means in just over half of the cases registered in Bengaluru, chargesheets were filed.