Ahmedabad: Gujarat remained among the states with the highest crime load in the country in 2024, registering over 6.15 lakh offences during the year, according to the latest Crime in India 2024 report released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). The report highlights a rise in urban crime, cyber fraud and murders linked to romantic relationships across the state.

A major concern flagged in the report was Gujarat recording the third-highest number of murders related to love affairs in the country. In 2024, as many as 144 murder cases were linked to romantic disputes, extramarital affairs and relationship-related conflicts, indicating a growing trend of personal disputes escalating into violent crimes.

Despite the high crime figures, Gujarat police recorded one of the country’s best investigation performances, with a chargesheet filing rate of 97.2 per cent. NCRB data showed that police filed chargesheets in nearly all registered cases. Overall, Gujarat registered 6,15,407 cognisable offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)/IPC and Special and Local Laws (SLL), with the state’s crime rate reaching 847 cases per lakh population, almost twice the national average of 418.9.

As per the data, the state’s prohibition laws contributed significantly to the high crime numbers. Gujarat, being a dry state, registered 43,637 cases under the Prohibition Act alone in 2024. Altogether, offences under Special and Local Laws accounted for 4,49,988 cases.

Among Gujarat’s major cities, Surat reported a considerably higher crime rate than Ahmedabad. Surat registered 63,166 cases during the year, compared to Ahmedabad’s 49,250 cases. Surat’s crime rate stood at 1,377.7 cases per lakh population, significantly higher than Ahmedabad’s 775.3.

Surat also recorded more serious crimes than Ahmedabad in 2024. The city reported 85 murder cases and 40 rape cases, while Ahmedabad recorded 62 murders and 31 rape cases. However, both cities maintained strong investigation records, with Surat achieving a chargesheet rate of 97.7 per cent and Ahmedabad recording 93 per cent.

The NCRB report further raised concerns over crimes against women and children in Gujarat. The state registered 7,606 crimes against women, with cruelty by husbands or relatives emerging as the largest category at 1,926 cases.

In cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, NCRB data revealed that in 97.9 per cent of cases, the accused was known to the child victim, including relatives, neighbours, friends or acquaintances. The figures indicate that children are increasingly vulnerable to abuse within familiar social circles.

Cybercrime also saw a sharp increase nationwide in 2024, with NCRB recording a 17.9 per cent rise in such offences. Financial fraud accounted for more than 72 per cent of cybercrime cases across the country. Gujarat too witnessed a surge in online investment scams, digital arrest frauds, AI-generated identity fraud and banking-related cyber offences during the year.

While Gujarat police continued to maintain a strong investigation and chargesheeting record, the NCRB data suggests that cyber fraud, relationship-driven violence and crimes within families and personal networks are becoming major law-and-order concerns for the state. DeshGujarat