Bhopal Tops in Crimes Against Women, Indore Comes Second
In 2023, Bhopal zone recorded the highest number of crimes against women in Madhya Pradesh, followed by the Indore zone...
prativad 
In 2023, Bhopal zone recorded the highest number of crimes against women in Madhya Pradesh, followed by the Indore zone, according to a report by the State Crime Record Bureau (SCRB). The report revealed alarming figures: 7,773 cases of molestation, 10,306 kidnappings, and 13,671 instances of obscenity faced by women in the state last year.
Bhopal zone led with 7,745 cases of crimes against women, while Indore closely followed with 7,738 cases. Gwalior (6,331), Rewa (6,296), and Ujjain (5,169) were the next highest zones. Meanwhile, Balaghat and Jabalpur zones recorded the fewest cases, with 1,937 and 2,456 incidents, respectively.
Despite the implementation of the police commissionerate system in both Bhopal and Indore to curb crime, the two cities remain hotspots for crimes against women. The measures have yet to bring crime under complete control.
The report highlights a steady rise in molestation cases, with 7,773 women and minor girls experiencing harassment in 2023, compared to 6,946 in 2022. Molestation includes sexual harassment, stalking, voyeurism, and physical assault intended to violate a woman's dignity.
Kidnapping incidents saw a slight decline, with 10,306 girls and women abducted in 2023, down from 10,563 in 2022. The motives for abduction varied, including forced marriage, begging, ransom, trafficking, prostitution, and domestic labor.
In 2023, around 13,671 women and girls faced obscenity, which involves offensive language, indecent behavior, and obscene depictions that go against societal norms.
Additional Director General (ADG) of SCRB, Chanchal Shekhar, stated that data on crimes against women is collected under various categories. Sometimes, the data gets merged, leading to confusion. He further noted that the crime rate in the state has been declining as police continue to take strict action against offenders.
