Odisha has the highest number of human trafficking victims in 2021: NCRB

New Delhi: The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) said that Odisha had the highest number of human trafficking victims in the country in 2021. A total of 6,213 people who were trafficked across the country were rescued last year, of which 1,290 were from Odisha. Out of 1,290 people, 1,018 were sold for forced labor, says the ‘Crime in India 2021’ report.

Similarly, 741 people were victims of human trafficking in Odisha in 2020. Odisha recorded 136 cases of human trafficking in 2021, up from 103 in 2020.

A recent report states that crime under the Indian Penal Code, and special and local laws have increased by 15.19 percent in the state. Crimes against Dalits have increased by 13.73 percent, while crimes against tribals have increased by 8.33 percent. The number of child marriages was the fifth highest in the country with 64 cases. There were 5,062 attempted murders and 2,814 robbery cases. Both divisions had the second-highest crime rates in the country for a population of millions.

While Odisha tops the list with 355 incidents, it ranks first and second in industrial and political riots respectively. The state had a cyber crime rate of 4.4 per million population, higher than the national average of 3.9. Similarly, last year 1,411 people were killed and 5,630 cases were registered for kidnapping and abduction. The report added that 5,081 people died due to negligence, including road accidents such as speeding.