The crime in India increased by 28 percent in the year 2020, due to the massive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and implemented lockdowns, says the report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). The increase in crime was marked as COVID-19 violations, whereas any other crime has been decreased in 2020 in contrast with 2019.
On Wednesday crime data was reported by NCRB for the year 2020. A total number of 66,01,285 knowable crimes was reported in the list involving 42,54,356 Indian Penal Code (IPC) violations and 23,46,929 crimes under Special and Local Laws (SLL). More cases have been recorded under the ‘Other State Local Act’ even in the category of Special and Local Laws, from 89,553 cases in 2019, which marked an increase to 4,14,589 cases in 2020. The registration of cases grown by 14,45,127 (28%). An increase from 385.5 in 2019 to 487.8 in 2020 has been marked in the crime rate.
As per the report by NCRB, “Major increase was seen in cases registered under Section 188 of the IPC (Disobedience to Order Duly Promulgated by Public Servant) from 29,469 cases in 2019 to 6,12,179 cases in 2020 and under ‘Other IPC Crimes’ from 2,52,268 cases in 2019 to 10,62,399 cases in 2020.”
The people who were disobeying the COVID-19 guidelines made by the Centre’s were supposed to be looked at under Section 188 of the IPC and the Disaster Management Act, according to the orders announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the country saw complete lockdown from the month of March 25 – May 31, 2020, the decrease in cases reported for crimes against women, children, and senior citizens, theft, burglary, robbery, and dacoity have been seen, says the report by NCRB.
Cases of offences against public tranquillity increased by 12.4% in 2020 over 2019, crimes against Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) reported an increase of almost 10% each in 2020 over 2019, and cases under ‘Offences Against the State’ marked a decrease in 2020 by 5,613 case in 2020 contrast to 7,656 in 2019. However, an increase could be seen in environment-related offences with 61,767 cases reported in 2020 compared to 34,676 cases in 2019. Cases registered under The Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) were the highest with 80.5 percent and Noise Pollution Acts (State/Central) with 11.8 percent.
