Bengaluru reported more dowry cases than the combined total of 18 other metro cities in 2023, according to the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) data published on Tuesday.
In 2023, Bengaluru recorded 1,013 dowry cases, the highest in the country, followed by Patna (104) and Lucknow (19).
“In Bengaluru, we find that nearly all families have working members, and most women now do not hesitate to file a complaint. This can be credited to the active pro-women groups in the city, which have grown stronger over the years, motivating victims to report dowry issues,” a senior police officer told The Hindu.
Up and down
The State recorded an increase in crimes against women, children, and senior citizens. Karnataka reported a 14.16% increase in crimes against women, an 11.78% rise in crimes against children, and a 16.23% increase in crimes involving senior citizens.
Akshay Hakay Machhindra, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Central, said that the city has a robust surveillance system. Over the years, a combination of social media platforms, witnesses reporting assaults against women, and effective CCTV coverage in the city has contributed to the proactive registration of cases related to crimes against women.
Meanwhile, the State saw a marginal decrease in murders and atrocity cases. Murders in Karnataka fell from 1,404 in 2022 to 1,322 in 2023; atrocities against Scheduled Castes dropped from 1,977 to 1,923; and atrocities against Scheduled Tribes reduced slightly from 438 to 434.
However, in the State capital Bengaluru, no category of crime showed a decline. Bengaluru city recorded sharp increases across several categories: a 27.41% rise in violent crimes, 19.07% in murders, 22.41% in abductions, 24.10% in crimes against women, 25.60% in crimes against children, 41.70% in crimes against senior citizens, and 23.37% in atrocities against Scheduled Castes. The only category that remained unchanged was atrocities against Scheduled Tribes, with 16 cases reported in both 2022 and 2023.
Road accidents claimed 12,322 lives, the fifth highest among States and union Territories. Suicides remained a major concern, with 13,330 deaths recorded, the fourth highest in the country, after Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh.
Published – September 30, 2025 09:43 pm IST
