Himachal’s crime rate drops by 18%

With 16,393 cases under various sections reported across the state in 2024 (January 1 to November 30) as compared to 19,987 cases in the preceding year, the state recorded a decline of around 18 per cent, which points towards a reducing crime graph.

As per the police, out of the total cases registered in 2024, as many as 75 cases of murders were registered which is less than the 92 cases registered in 2023. Similarly, attempt to murder cases also witnessed a slight decline as 71 cases were registered in 2024, while the total number of cases under attempt to murder were 75 in 2024. Additionally, 15 cases of culpable homicide were registered across the state last year as compared to 12 in 2023.

Crime against women also declined as total 305 rape cases, 458 cases of molestation and 160 cases of cruelty against women were registered in 2024 as compared to 344, 506 and 218 cases of rape, molestation and cruelty against women in 2023. Additionally, no cases of dowry deaths have been reported in the state during the past two years.

Kidnapping and abduction cases witnessed a slight rise last year as a total 453 cases of kidnapping and abduction were registered across the state which is more than 438 cases that were registered in 2023.

In 2024, the state also recorded a decline in total number of accidents as compared to the previous year. While as many as 1,978 cases of accidents were reported across the state last year, total 2,255 accidents were reported across the state in 2023.

The police also had great success in nabbing drug peddlers across the state as 1,537 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, were registered across the state last year. The police were able to nab several big interstate drug kingpins such as Shashi Negi alias Shahi Mahatma, along with over 50 of his associates who were responsible for running an illicit drug racket in the upper regions of Shimla district such as Rohru, Jubbal, Kotkhai, Theog, etc.

Additionally, as many as 2,734 cases under the excise act were registered across the state in 2024.