Chhattisgarh officials clash over crime numbers against women, children
Raipur, July 15 – The question‑hour of the monsoon session turned into a contentious debate when Congress MLA Sangeeta Sinha expressed deep concern over the surge in offences targeting women and children in Chhattisgarh.
She demanded a detailed breakdown of rape, molestation, assault and homicide cases logged at police stations from January 2023 to June 2026. Home Minister Vijay Sharma replied that the current administration has registered fewer incidents than the previous one.
Sharma cited the previous government’s tally of 18,323 cases over a 2½‑year term, contrasting it with approximately 16,000 cases recorded by the present government in the same period. Sinha interjected, presenting granular district‑wise and year‑on‑year data that she argued disproved the minister’s claim.
Her statistics revealed that molestation cases were 3,096 in 2024, 3,070 in 2025, and 1,550 in the first five months of 2026. Child abduction figures rose sharply: 2,300 in 2023, 2,961 in 2024, 3,040 in 2025, and already 1,746 in early 2026, with a warning that the total may cross 3,500 before the year ends.
The minister outlined safety measures: 13 dedicated women’s police stations statewide, special juvenile police units in every district, 124 police stations equipped for child‑friendly interactions, and Good Touch‑Bad Touch awareness drives in schools and colleges. He also mentioned reliance on the ‘Abhivyakti’ mobile app, the 112 emergency helpline, and increased patrolling, acknowledging that sexual offence rates have not shown a substantial dip.
Custodial death data was also tabled: 375 deaths from 2021 to 25 June 2026, with magistrate‑ordered investigations in 373 cases, 311 reports received and 62 still pending.
Kidnapping incidents surged between July 2025 and June 2026, particularly in Raipur, where cases rose from 524 to 634. Mixed trends were observed for murders and robberies across major districts, underscoring the divergence between government statements and ground realities.