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NCRB data: A total of 207 cases of acid attacks were recorded in India in 2023, against 202 in 2022 and 176 in 2021. Of the total 207 cases, 57 were from Bengal
The NCRB stated that 267 arrests were made in all cases of acid attacks. (News18 Hindi file for representation)
The number of acid attacks across the country saw a significant rise between 2021 and 2023, with West Bengal reporting the highest number of cases, recent figures on ‘Crimes in India’ by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) suggest.
The data show that a total of 207 cases of acid attacks were recorded in India in 2023, against 202 in 2022 and 176 in 2021.
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Of the total 207 cases registered in 2023, as many as 57 were from West Bengal. The state was followed by Uttar Pradesh with 31 cases, Gujarat with 15 cases, Rajasthan and Odisha with 11, Haryana, Kerala and Assam with 10 and the National Capital with 7 cases of acid attacks.
The NCRB further stated that in all cases of acid attacks, 267 arrests were made. Of these arrested persons, 246 were men and 21 women. Five juveniles were also apprehended for acid attacks in 2023.
Along with this, cases of women kidnapped and compelled for marriage have also grown across the country from 28,012 in 2021 to 30,496 in 2023. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar topped the chart in this crime category with 10,675 and 9,486 victims, respectively. Madhya Pradesh stood next with 1,675 victims, Rajasthan with 1,624, Punjab with 1,413 victims and Assam at 1,389.
Among the cities, Lucknow and Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh recorded highest cases, 429 and 264, respectively. Patna stood third with 250 cases.
The NCRB data suggested that of the 30,496 cases registered in the country during 2023, a total of 6,245 cases were found to be true, but remained untraced due to insufficient evidence.
While seven cases were abated during the investigation, 10,866 cases were chargesheeted during the year.
Pallabi Ghosh, founder of Impact and Dialogue Foundation, said the NCRB numbers are high, but these are still not the actual numbers.
“The situation on ground is very different. The NCRB data suggested that the cases are being reported but still being majorly downplayed. Law enforcement agencies must register more cases, and awareness is very important on ground level for more FIRs to be registered,” Ghosh said.
She added that the biggest setback is that majority of the trafficking cases are reported as missing cases. “This not only dilutes the magnitude of that crime but also keeps it out of the ambit of agencies dealing with organised crime. These cases need to be seen as heinous crimes,” Ghosh said.
About the Author
Anvit Srivastava, Principal Correspondent at CNN-News18, covers crime, security, policing and society in Delhi. His impactful ground reports have helped him make his mark among the select credited journalists i…Read More
Anvit Srivastava, Principal Correspondent at CNN-News18, covers crime, security, policing and society in Delhi. His impactful ground reports have helped him make his mark among the select credited journalists i… Read More
September 30, 2025, 17:58 IST
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