The Assam Kaziranga University

According to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Assam recorded the highest crime against women in India for the 5th consecutive year.

The rate of crime against women in Assam last year was 168.3, while the national rate was 64.5.

However, Delhi recorded second with 147.6 and Odisha third with 137.8.

“This is one distinction, which no one in Assam wants. One reason for the high numbers could be that most victims in Assam come forward to report cases. And the police register those cases promptly instead of the women being turned away like in some other states,” said a senior police officer on condition of anonymity.

“The figures are very worrying. More awareness and sensitization are needed to bring the cases down. This won’t happen overnight and will take a lot of work,” said Chikimiki Talukdar, former chairperson of, the Assam State Commission for Women.

The state recorded 1,835 cases of rape last year in comparison to 1,658 cases in 2020. There were 563 cases of attempted rape and 4,511 cases of assault with intention of outraging modesty last year.

While cases of dowry deaths were few and far between several years ago, there has been an increase in such crimes in Assam in past years. Last year, 198 women died due to dowry-related cases across the state; in 2020 it was 150. Nine cases of acid attacks on women were also recorded in 2021.

Of the total cases of crime against women registered in Assam last year, 12,950 were of cruelty by husband or his relatives under Section 498A of IPC. The state recorded 5,866 cases of kidnapping and abduction of women in 2021—of them, 3,362 cases were of kidnapping and abduction to compel marriage.

The state recorded 1,948 cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act of which 1,317 were of child rape, 424 cases of sexual assault, and 158 of sexual harassment. The total number of cases under the POCSO Act in Assam in 2020 was 1,496.

Assam recorded 432 cases of cyber crimes targeting women, which included publishing or transmitting sexually explicit material. It is the second highest figure in the country after Odisha, which recorded 565 cases.

The Assam Kaziranga University