PANAJI
While Goa might receive applause for reporting less number of criminal cases in comparison to other states, some heinous crimes have shot up, though marginally, within a span of one year.
According to a National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report for the year 2021, Goa recorded a slight decline in murder cases from 34 in 2020 to 26 in 2021. But the cases of attempted murder, sexual harassment, kidnapping & abduction, and rape have reported an increase.
The State reported 30 incidents of attempted murder under section 307 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) last year whereas the preceding year had 24. The rate of crime accordingly shot up from 1.5 to 1.9 in 2020 and 2021, respectively.
Incidents of rape “ under section 376 IPC - also spiked from 60 cases in 2020 (7.8 per cent) to 72 in 2021 (9.3 per cent), while stalking cases “ under section 354 D IPC - rose from 17 in 2020 to 20 in 2021 and sexual harassment - under section 354-A IPC “ also reported an upward trend.
The State, in all, reported 2,099 cognizable offences under different crime heads in 2021, a drop from 3,393 cases in 2020 and 2,465 cases in 2019.
In the State where cases under section 324 IPC for voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons have become a common phenomenon, the NCRB record mentions about 194 cases and 265 victims of the offence.
Goa also recorded 121 deaths due to negligence (road accidents) compared to 125 cases of deaths in 2020. A total of 23 hit-and-run cases and 98 ‘other accidents’ were also reported last calendar year. Fortunately, there have been no cases of attempt to culpable homicide, and attempt to commit suicide during this period. The year 2021 also saw 25 cases of assault on women which had 28 victims, and one case of acid attack.
No kidnapping for begging, murder or ransom
PANAJI:
The NCRB report 2021 has some good news for Goa under the kidnapping and abduction crime head. Despite an increase in the crime rate from 2.1 in 2020 to 2.8 in 2021, there has been no kidnapping for begging, murder, ransom, or kidnapping of women for forcible marriage.
A total of 25 missing children are deemed as kidnapped but as per the national records, no minor has been sold or procured for prostitution in 2021. However, 11 cases of human trafficking were reported of which 27 victims were rescued by the police.
