New Delhi, Sep 30 – In 2023, a total of 57,789 cases concerning crimes against individuals from Scheduled Castes (SCs) were documented, with Uttar Pradesh leading the statistics at 15,130 cases, as per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report.

The “Crime in India 2023” report indicates a slight increase of 0.4 percent in crimes against SCs compared to 2022, which recorded 57,582 cases. Following Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan reported the second highest number of cases at 8,449, while Madhya Pradesh and Bihar recorded 8,232 and 7,064 cases, respectively.

The crime rate against SCs was noted at 28.7 per lakh population in 2023. Madhya Pradesh (72.6), Rajasthan (69.1), and Bihar (42.6) exhibited some of the highest crime rates, whereas West Bengal reported a mere 102 cases, resulting in a low rate of 0.5.

The report detailed that the majority of cases (18,437, or 31.9 percent) were classified under simple hurt. This was followed by criminal intimidation cases, which accounted for 7.8 percent (4,486 cases), and offenses under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, comprising 7.5 percent (4,345 cases).

Additionally, 2,835 rape cases involving SC women and 1,379 rape cases involving SC children were recorded nationwide in 2023. The overall charge sheet filing rate for crimes against SCs was 81.2 percent. Notably, states and Union Territories such as Goa, Chhattisgarh, Puducherry, and Sikkim achieved a 100 percent charge sheet filing rate, while Rajasthan and Jharkhand reported rates below 50 percent.