Nagpur Ranks Second After Patna In Murder Rate: NCRB Data

Nagpur: While the city recorded an overall decline in crime in 2024, an analysis of the report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) exposes a far more disturbing reality, especially related to murder numbers. Nagpur recorded 88 murder cases involving 90 victims in 2024, giving the city a murder rate of 3.5, the second highest among 19 metropolitan cities in India. Only Patna recorded a higher murder rate at 5.2."In Nagpur, murder happens over the most trivial of issues like not giving change in shops or a free cigarette, angrily staring at each other, road rage, light banter and drunken brawls over abusing each other. Most assailants and victims don't even have any crime records in the past," said a senior police officer."For the last 20 years, Nagpur has recorded an average of eight murders per month. Almost all the murders were detected too. City has grown and expanded, but the NCRB refers to the city's population as 25 lakhs as per 2011 Census. This increases our rate of murder," said a senior cop.In 2022, Nagpur reported 65 murder cases. The number jumped to 79 in 2023, a steep 21.5% increase. In 2024, murders climbed to 88 cases, registering another 11.39% rise. A deeper examination of the motive-wise breakup of murders paints an equally grim picture of social tensions brewing across the city. Of the 88 murders recorded in 2024, as many as 30 were linked to petty quarrels, indicating how minor disputes are increasingly escalating into deadly violence.Financial conflicts also emerged as a major trigger, with 16 murders taking place over money disputes. Family disputes accounted for several killings, while personal vendetta also led to multiple murders. Eight murders were linked to love affairs, exposing the dangerous rise of emotionally driven violence.According to NCRB 2024 figures, Nagpur reported 21,898 total crimes during the year, compared to 24,036 in 2023, marking an overall decline of 8.89%. However, this reduction offers little comfort as serious violent crimes continue to rise steadily. The city's chargesheet filing rate stood at 69.8%, indicating that nearly three out of every 10 cases remain without proper prosecution paperwork.The highest number of murder victims, 35 men and four women, belonged to the 30-45 age category bracket. A total of 27 men and four women were murdered belonging to the 18-30 age category. Among the victims below 6 years of age were two boys and one girl. In the 16-18 age group, one male victim was recorded. BOX:Nagpur Ranks Second in Attempted Murder RatesThe NCRB data shows that Nagpur is ranked second among India's 19 metropolitan cities for the rate of attempted murder cases. This ranking is based on the crime rate per lakh population. The city recorded 192 registered cases, resulting in a crime rate of 7.7. This figure exceeds the metropolitan average of 3.1.