Alarming Rise in Cybercrimes and Violent Offenses in AP

Visakhapatnam: The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report 2022 has exposed a surge in both cybercrimes and violent offenses in Andhra Pradesh. It positioned the state at the 11th slot in overall crime rates across the country.

The cybercrime landscape in AP has witnessed an alarming escalation over the past three years. The latest data from NCRB revealed a staggering 2,341 cases in 2022 – set against 1,899 cases in 2020 and 1,875 cases in 2021.

Predominantly, online fraud, cyber-stalking, and online banking fraud have emerged as the primary forms of cybercrimes, driven by motives ranging from financial deception to personal vendettas and sexual exploitation.

The report cites 1,463 cases of online fraud, 107 cases linked to personal revenge and 147 cases associated with sexual exploitation.

The NCRB report also highlights a concerning trend in violent offenses. The figures reveal a steady increase in violent crimes from 6,683 cases in 2020 to 7,215 in 2021, with a slight decrease to 7,104 in 2022.

Kidnappings, in particular, have witnessed a shocking spike, with 903 cases reported in 2022. More alarmingly, 27.3 per cent of these kidnappings are linked to marriage, predominantly targeting young girls aged 19 to 22. This raises concerns about the safety and security of the youths in the state.

The murder count for 2022 stood at a troubling 925 cases, with motives ranging from illicit relationships to personal enmity.

The most-affected age group falls between 30 and 40 years, underscoring the need for targeted interventions in this demographic.Human trafficking recorded a total of 163 cases in 2022.

Disturbingly, victims are predominantly girls aged between 12 and 15 and those above 18 years, the report noted and emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive measures to combat this heinous crime against humanity.