Bengaluru's Dual Crime Wave: Police Records 55 Per Cent Spike In Molestation Incidents, 50 Per Cent Surge In Cybercrimes

Recent data from Bengaluru city police has revealed a concerning 55 per cent year-on-year spike in molestation incidents in 2023, totaling 1,135 cases.

Alongside molestation, various other crimes such as murders, robberies, house break-ins, servant thefts, and motor vehicle thefts also experienced an uptick last year according to a report from Times of India.

Meanwhile, authorities have attributed the increase in reported cases to factors such as the free registration of FIRs, personal enmity, or trivial disputes.

Raman Gupta, additional commissioner of police (East), emphasised the need for a detailed analysis to determine the exact reasons behind the surge in molestation cases. He reiterated the city's zero-tolerance policy for such offences in both public and private spaces.

City police commissioner B Dayananda outlined ongoing efforts to create awareness among women, encouraging them to report incidents and not succumb to attacks. Due to continuous initiatives, he stated, more women are now coming forward to report such incidents.

Notably, molestation incidents are reported in various contexts, including civil disputes, family feuds, and disputes among known individuals.

Among the 1,135 molestation cases reported in 2023, police successfully detected 1,004 cases. Additionally, the city witnessed a rise in cases registered under IPC section 509, which pertains to insulting the modesty of women through words, sounds, gestures, or exhibitions.

Simultaneously, cybercrimes in Bengaluru nearly doubled in 2023 compared to the previous year, according to data from the City Crime Records Bureau. Bengaluru city police registered 17,623 cybercrime cases in 2023, up from 9,940 in 2022, reflecting the evolving nature of crimes, now predominantly occurring online as reported by Deccan Herald.

Despite the surge in reported cybercrimes, the number of detected/solved cases decreased to 1,271 in 2023, down from 2,431 in 2022.

Police officials have attributed this trend to the rapidly changing methods employed by fraudsters in the cyber realm.

Senior police officials acknowledged the challenges posed by evolving cybercrimes, emphasising that technology advancements have only increased the sophistication of cyber frauds.

Bengaluru police, however, have adapted to the changing times with dedicated cybercrime stations in each police division, registering even the smallest cyber fraud incidents.

Factors contributing to the rise in cybercrimes include the development of a cyber tipline and the registration of cases through the police helpline.

In conclusion, Bengaluru today faces a dual challenge of addressing the surge in traditional crimes, particularly molestation cases, while simultaneously adapting to the evolving landscape of cybercrimes in the digital age.