Fewer physical, higher digital.

"India recorded 5.89 million crimes in 2024, down 5.7% from 6.24 million in 2023, according to the Crime in India Report for 2024 released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). The rate of crime per hundred thousand people in 2024 stood at 419, down from 448 in 2023 and the lowest since 2019, when this number was 385." HT. "Murders in India dropped by 2.4% in 2024," while "Crimes against women declined by 1.5%, with 441,000 cases reported in 2024 compared to 448,000 in the previous year. TOI. "Delhi retained the grim distinction of being the most unsafe metropolitan city for women for the fourth consecutive year, reporting the highest number of rape cases and a high share of violent crimes against women." Delhi, the capital city, recorded 13,396 cases of crimes against women: 1058 cases of rape, more than double that of Jaipur (497) and Mumbai (411); 3,974 cases of kidnapping and abduction; 4,647 cases of cruelty by husband or relatives; 755 cases of molestation and seven murders with rape. HT. Adding to its list of achievements, "Delhi recorded the highest number of dowry death cases among 19 metropolitan cities in 2024, continuing a grim trend that kept the national capital at the top of the ignominious list for the fifth consecutive year." According to NCRB, Delhi recorded 109 such incidents involving 111 victims. TOI. The total number of crimes fell 15.1% in Delhi, from 320,000 in 2023 to almost 280,000 in 2024. "Crimes committed by juveniles totaled 2,306 in 2024, including 144 cases of murder, 526 robberies and 217 incidents of snatching." On the other hand, there were 7,662 cases of crimes against children. "To put this in perspective, Mumbai recorded 3,374 such cases, and Bangalore 2,026 cases." TOI. There is some good news. Although a total of 5,20,614 persons (1,67,414 males, 3,52,729 females and 29 transgender) were reported missing in 2024, "a total of 5,03,602 persons (1,65,465 males, 3,38,116 females and 21 transgender) were recovered/traced." "A total of 98,375 children (22,768 males, 75,603 females and four transgender) were reported missing," but a total of 98,826 children (23,902 males, 74,919 females and five transgender)) were recovered/traced.  " The Print. Which means an extra 451 children, probably missing from previous years, were recovered. What unbelievable joy for distraught parents. These are incidents of physical crimes but it is cybercrime which is growing exponentially. "Over 86% of households are now connected to the internet," and "Cybersecurity incidents in India rose from 1.029 million in 2022 to 2.268 million in 2024." pib.gov.in. Elderly people are especially vulnerable to cybercrimes. "There was an 86% rise in cybercrimes targeting seniors between 2020 and 2022," during the Covid pandemic. "Investigations show that once victims send money, it is quickly moved through dozens of accounts and often converted to cryptocurrency to be moved out of the country." "The police have traced links to China and Cambodia." ST. Digital crimes are easier and potentially much more lucrative. If the government is keen to encourage digital transactions for surveillance purposes, then it is their duty to protect and recompense citizens against cybercrimes by the Chinese. It's an attack on our sovereignty.