West Bengal tops country in acid attacks, crime against women drops marginally, reveals latest NCRB data

While there has been a marginal drop in the crime against women in the State, West Bengal continues to record highest incidents of acid attacks in the country, as per the Crime in India 2023 published on September 29. 2025.

While the country recorded 207 cases of acid attacks in 2023, West Bengal alone accounted for 57 acid attacks under Section 326A of IPC. As per the data West Bengal alone accounted for 27.5% of all acid attacks in the country.

The number of victims/survivors in these 57 cases of acid attacks was 60 in West Bengal. Across the country there were 220 victims/survivors in 207 incidents of acid attacks. Uttar Pradesh with 31 cases of acid attacks and 31 victims/ survivors recorded the second highest instances of acid attacks in the country.

For the past several years West Bengal, which is the fourth most populated state in the country, has recorded the highest number of acid attacks in the country. As per the NCRB report of 2022, the State recorded 48 instances of acid attacks and 52 victims/survivors. In the year 2022 the country had recorded 202 instances of acid attacks. The State has been consistently recording the highest number of acid attacks in the country since 2018.

Acid attack survivors and activists have demanded stringent checks on the unlicensed over-the-counter sale of acid in the country especially in West Bengal. According to guidelines set down by the Supreme Court under W.P. (Criminal) 129 of 2006; Laxmi minor vs. Union of India, over-the-counter sale of acid is completely prohibited unless the seller maintains a log/register recording the sale of acid which will contain the details of the person(s) to whom acid(s) is/are sold and the quantity sold.

While there are provisions for compensations for survivors of acid attacks, rehabilitation of victims. Recently a community Durga Puja in Kolkata in 2025 highlighted the plight of acid attack survivors.

Meanwhile, West Bengal recorded 34,691 cases of crime against women registered under Indian Penal Code and Special Local Laws in 2023 marginally lower than 34, 738 cases of crime recorded in 2022.

The rate of crime in the State, which is calculated per lakh of population, was recorded at 71.3%. The estimated population of women in 2023 in the State was estimated at 486.4 lakhs. Among the crime heads, cases recorded under Section 498 A of IPC- which relates to cruelty by husband or his relatives was highest. West Bengal recorded 19698 cases Section 498 A of IPC – which is second highest in the country after Uttar Pradesh which recorded 19889. In terms of victims under Section 498 A of IPC West Bengal recorded 20462 victims, which is highest in the country.