Ballari emerged as a focal point in the surge of crimes against women in the Kalyana Karnataka region, recording the highest crime rate with 530 cases out of the total 2,411 reported across seven districts in 2022. This marked a notable increase from 2,227 cases in 2021 and 2,087 cases in 2020, as revealed by the latest data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
The predominant offenses against women, falling under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Special and Local Laws (SLL), included assault with intent to outrage modesty (33%), cruelty by husband or relatives (26%), Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act violations (16%), dowry cases (9%), kidnapping and abduction of women (6.6%), and rape (3.85%), as per the NCRB report.
Notably, Ballari emerged with the highest crime rate against women in the Kalyana Karnataka region, recording 530 cases, followed closely by Kalaburagi with 520 cases. Over the last five years (2018-2022), Kalaburagi consistently reported the highest number of crimes against women (2,643), while Koppal recorded the lowest (1,241). The figures for other districts during this period were 2,225 in Ballari, 2,215 in Raichur, 1,339 in Bidar, and 1,301 in Yadgir.
Analyzing the data from 2018 to 2022, the region reported 4,064 cases of assault on women with intent to outrage modesty, 2,541 cases of cruelty by husband or relatives, 1,618 cases under the POCSO Act, 1,191 dowry-related cases, 486 cases of kidnapping and abduction, and 448 rape cases.
Among the POCSO cases, 75% (1,223 cases) involved child rape, while 280 cases pertained to sexual assault and 83 cases to sexual harassment.
Noteworthy changes in 2022 included Ballari registering the highest crime rate against women, and a single case of human trafficking in Koppal, diverging from the trend of zero cases in the previous two years (2021 and 2020). In 2019, three cases of human trafficking were reported in Ballari, while Kalaburagi recorded one case in 2018.