National Crime Records Bureau data shows increase in crime incidents across Nagaland in 2023

DIMAPUR — Nagaland registered an increase in overall crimes in 2023 with 1,899 cases recorded under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Special and Local Laws (SLL), according to the latest Crime in India 2023 report released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) on September 29.

The figure stood at 1,592 in 2022 and 1,478 in 2021.

Of the 2023 total, 1,050 cases were filed under IPC and 849 under SLL.

Theft remained the most reported IPC crime with 430 cases, including 281 motor vehicle thefts and 149 categorised as ‘other thefts’. Burglary accounted for 72 cases. There were 89 cases of extortion and blackmailing and 10 cases of robbery. Criminal breach of trust cases were 52.

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In violent crime categories, the state reported 19 murder cases, including victims below six years of age, and 10 cases of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Negligence leading to death accounted for 45 cases involving 58 victims. Of these, 40 were related to road accidents—33 from other accidents and seven from hit-and-run incidents—while five were listed as “other negligence”. Attempt to murder cases stood at 23.

A total of 199 offences were filed under “offences affecting the human body”. These included 14 cases of assault on women with intent to outrage modesty—seven under Section 354 (assault), four under Section 354A (sexual harassment), and three under Section 354D (stalking). There were also 37 cases of kidnapping and abduction, 10 cases of rape, and three cases of attempted rape.

Seven cases were filed under “offences against public tranquillity”.

Under SLL categories in 2023, the NCRB recorded three cases under women-related laws and 16 under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. Arms and explosives-related cases stood at 81. There were four cases under IT and intellectual property-related laws.

Liquor and narcotics-related cases formed the largest share, with 381 under liquor prohibition and 357 under the NDPS Act, 1985.

Crimes against senior citizens rose from eight cases in 2021 to 11 in 2022 and 12 in 2023. These included one case of attempt to murder, three kidnappings and abductions, six thefts, and one related to forgery, cheating and fraud. Eighteen cases were pending from the previous year. Eleven persons were arrested and five charge-sheeted in 2023.

Economic offences in Nagaland increased from 69 in 2021 to 86 in 2022 and 110 in 2023. Of these, 52 were cases of criminal breach of trust and 58 were related to forgery, cheating and fraud.

The NCRB also noted one case under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Vigilance and Lokayukta in 2023.

Cyber crime cases decreased over the past three years from eight in 2021 to four in 2022 and two in 2023. One was related to cheating by personation using computer resources under Section 66D of the IT Act, and the other involved publishing sexually explicit material depicting children under Section 67B. The latter was also categorised as cyber pornography against children.

Offences against the State fell from 10 in 2021 to six in 2022 and two in 2023. Crimes by North-East insurgents in 2023 included six cases of extortion, one under the Arms Act, 1959, and one other SLL crime, totalling eight.

The report also recorded one case of environment-related offence in Nagaland during 2022, the only such case in the three-year period.