Bhubaneswar, Mar 19: Women safety has become a major headache for residents of Bhubaneswar as well as the law enforcement officials. Whether they are walking on the streets, using public transport, heading to school or work, or even selling goods in the market, women and girls face the looming threat of harassment and violence.
According to government data from the last four years, 36,420 women and 8,403 children have gone missing during this period. Furthermore, 421 women and girls have been trafficked, raising alarms about the safety of women in the city.
In terms of harassment, 1,114 women have fallen victim to sexual harassment and other forms of misconduct on national highways, state highways, and other roads over the last four years.
Bhubaneswar stands out with the highest number of reported cases, while some districts reported fewer than 500 cases. These incidents primarily involve eve-teasing and molestation, with varying statistics across districts.
The Cuttack Urban Police District (UPD) under the Commissionerate Police system reported only 9 such incidents between 2020 and 2024. Sambalpur recorded 453 cases of misbehavior with women, followed by Nuapada with 310 cases.
Thefts are another major concern in the state, with over 5,000 thefts reported in the last four years. The majority of these incidents occurred in broad daylight in Balasore, while Bhubaneswar saw a surge in thefts during the nighttime. Bhubaneswar, in particular, recorded 1,615 thefts, followed by Bhadrak, Puri, and Sambalpur. In terms of police performance in handling theft cases, Bhubaneswar's Commissionerate Police has been the most effective, while Cuttack reported only 141 theft cases.
Moreover, there have been 924 cases of armed robbery across the state over the last four years, with the majority of these incidents occurring at night. Balasore has the highest number of daytime robberies, while Bhubaneswar leads in nighttime robberies. Other districts like Puri and Khordha have also experienced significant robbery incidents.
This upward trend in crimes highlights the growing insecurity not only for women but for the general public in Bhubaneswar and neighboring districts, signaling a pressing need for enhanced safety measures and policing.
