CrimeReport – Andhra Pradesh Registers Noticeable Fall in Overall Crime During 2024
CrimeReport – Andhra Pradesh reported a significant decline in overall crime cases during 2024, according to the latest Crime in India 2024 report released by the National Crime Records Bureau. The data showed a steady reduction in registered offences over the last three years, indicating an improvement in several law-and-order indicators across the State. Officials recorded 1,68,788 cases under IPC/BNS and Special and Local Laws in 2024, compared to 1,84,293 cases in 2023 and 1,95,284 cases in 2022.
Crime Rate Remains Below National Average
The report stated that Andhra Pradesh recorded a crime rate of 316.1 cases per one lakh population in 2024, which remained well below the national average of 418.9. The State’s projected mid-year population for the period stood at nearly 534 lakh. Investigating agencies also maintained a strong chargesheet filing performance, with the chargesheeting rate reaching 90.7%.
At the national level, India registered 58.85 lakh crimes during 2024, showing a 5.7% decline compared to 62.41 lakh cases reported in the previous year.
Human Trafficking Cases Show Mixed Trend
The NCRB report also drew attention to human trafficking-related offences. Andhra Pradesh ranked third in the country in terms of trafficking cases registered through Anti Human Trafficking Units. Telangana reported the highest number with 423 cases, followed by Maharashtra with 337, while Andhra Pradesh recorded 159 cases.
The figures reflected fluctuations over recent years. The State had registered 163 trafficking cases in 2022, which dropped to 120 in 2023 before increasing again in 2024.
Out of the 159 cases reported during the year, 41 were booked directly under human trafficking provisions, while 116 cases involved exploitation of trafficked individuals. Authorities also registered one case each related to procuration for prostitution and procuration of children.
Victim Identification and Anti-Trafficking Measures
Investigators identified 213 victims in trafficking-related cases across Andhra Pradesh in 2024. Among them were 23 minors below 18 years of age and 190 adults.
The report noted that Anti Human Trafficking Units across the country have received financial assistance from the Ministry of Home Affairs to improve operational capacity. At present, 819 AHTUs are functioning nationwide, while 20 States and Union Territories have established such units in every district.
Decline Recorded in Crimes Against Women
Cases involving crimes against women also witnessed a decline in Andhra Pradesh over the past three years. The State registered 19,952 such cases in 2024, lower than 22,418 cases in 2023 and 25,503 in 2022.
Police arrested 17,149 individuals in connection with these offences, while chargesheets were filed in 94.4% of the cases.
According to the report, the offences registered during 2024 included 9,165 cases of cruelty by husbands or relatives, 843 incidents of sexual harassment, 441 rape cases, 102 attempted rape cases, and 977 stalking complaints. Authorities also recorded 2,389 assault cases against women and seven incidents involving rape and murder. In addition, 30 kidnapping cases linked to marriage were reported during the year.
Kidnapping and Murder Cases See Reduction
Kidnapping cases in Andhra Pradesh declined sharply in 2024. The State registered 472 cases during the year, compared to 746 in 2023 and 903 in 2022.
However, police records showed that 865 kidnapping cases remained pending for investigation or resolution during the year, including 393 cases carried forward from previous years. Chargesheets were filed in 67.8% of the pending matters. By the end of 2024, authorities reported that 282 males and 583 females connected to kidnapping cases were still untraced.
The NCRB report also pointed to a slight decline in murder cases. Andhra Pradesh recorded 898 murders in 2024, down from 922 cases in 2023. Among the murders reported, 448 were linked to disputes of various kinds. These included family-related conflicts, petty quarrels, property disputes, money-related disagreements, and a small number of incidents associated with water disputes.
The report further showed that Andhra Pradesh maintained a cognizable crime rate under IPC/BNS of 217.4 cases per one lakh population, remaining lower than the national average of 252.3.