New Delhi: India witnessed a total of 28,522 murder cases in 2022, averaging 78 killings daily or more than three every hour, according to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report titled “Crime in India-2022.” While this figure reflects a decline from 29,272 in 2021 and 29,193 in 2020, regional disparities persist.
Uttar Pradesh reported the highest number of murder FIRs at 3,491 in 2022, followed by Bihar (2,930), Maharashtra (2,295), Madhya Pradesh (1,978), Rajasthan (1,834), and West Bengal (1,696).
Sikkim (9), Nagaland (21), Mizoram (31), Goa (44), and Manipur (47) registered the fewest murder cases in 2022, as per the NCRB data.
Among Union Territories, Delhi recorded 509 murder cases in 2022, trailed by Jammu and Kashmir (99), Puducherry (30), Chandigarh (18), Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu (16), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (7), Ladakh (5), and Lakshadweep (Zero).
A notable 95.4% of murder victims were adults, with 8,125 being female and men constituting approximately 70%. Nine individuals identifying as the third gender were also among the victims.
Disputes were the primary motive in 9,962 murder cases in 2022, with Maharashtra leading the tally at 1,130, followed by Tamil Nadu (1,045), Bihar (980), Madhya Pradesh (726), and Uttar Pradesh (710).
Following disputes, ‘personal vendetta or enmity’ accounted for 3,761 cases, with Bihar (804), Madhya Pradesh (364), and Karnataka (353) topping the list.
Various motives, including dowry, witchcraft, child/human sacrifice, communal/religious reasons, casteism, political motives, class conflict, honor killings, and love affairs, were identified in the NCRB data.
Family disputes, illicit relationships, extremism/insurgency, robberies, gang rivalries, property/land disputes, and petty quarrels also emerged as motives behind murders in 2022.