Bhubaneswar, Mar 26: Odisha has seen a rise in rape cases and a decline in murder cases in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to the White Paper released by the Home Department in the state assembly.
The report reveals that in 2024, the state registered 3,054 rape cases and 1,258 murder cases, whereas in 2023, there were 2,826 rape cases and 1,362 murder cases. This indicates an 8% increase in rape cases, while murder cases decreased by 7.6%.
The total number of cognizable crimes reported in 2024 was 2,14,113. This includes 1,258 murder cases, 356 dacoity cases, 2,582 robbery cases, 6,408 burglary cases, 17,805 thefts, 6,307 cases of swindling, 1,471 instances of rioting, 3,054 rape cases, 12,375 motor vehicle accidents, and 1,62,497 miscellaneous cases.
The White Paper was shared with Assembly members in preparation for the Home Department budget discussion scheduled for Wednesday.
During the investigation of these cases, police confirmed that 2,07,204 of the cognizable cases were valid, with chargesheets filed in 1,39,001 cases. Out of the 3,054 registered rape cases, 2,986 were found to be true, and chargesheets were filed in 1,948 of them. For the 1,258 murder cases, 1,215 were confirmed, and chargesheets were filed in 542 cases.
The report also highlights a reduction in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) activities in Odisha, due to strong police and administrative measures. Only four LWE incidents were reported in 2024, compared to nine incidents in 2023. In police operations against the CPI (Maoists), six Maoists were neutralized, eight arrested, and four surrendered to authorities. The police also seized 32 firearms, 91 sophisticated explosives, and other materials. Civilian casualties were also reduced, with just one civilian death in LWE-related incidents in 2024, compared to three deaths in 2023.
In the realm of cybercrime, Odisha reported 2,501 cases involving frauds amounting to Rs 154.45 crore. The police arrested 581 individuals involved in these crimes, and recovered Rs 2.02 crore for the victims. Additionally, Rs 8.53 crore was frozen during the investigations.
