India witnessed a total of 28,522 murder cases in 2022, averaging 78 killings per day or over three every hour, according to the latest report from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). However, this number is lower than the 29,272 cases in 2021 and 29,193 cases in 2020, as revealed in the “Crime in India-2022” report.
The state of Uttar Pradesh reported the highest number of First Information Reports (FIRs) for murder, with 3,491 cases in 2022. It was followed by Bihar (2,930), Maharashtra (2,295), Madhya Pradesh (1,978), Rajasthan (1,834), and West Bengal (1,696), according to data from the government agency.
On the other hand, Sikkim (9), Nagaland (21), Mizoram (31), Goa (44), and Manipur (47) had the lowest number of murder cases in 2022 among the states, as per the NCRB. Among the Union Territories, Delhi reported 509 murder cases, followed by Jammu and Kashmir (99), Puducherry (30), Chandigarh (18), Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu (16), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (7), Ladakh (5), and Lakshadweep (0).
The report also highlighted that 95.4% of murder victims were adults. Out of the total victims, 8,125 were female, while men constituted approximately 70%. Additionally, there were nine victims who identified as third-gender individuals.
The motives behind murder cases in India varied. Maharashtra had the highest number of dispute-related cases at 1,130, followed by Tamil Nadu (1,045), Bihar (980), Madhya Pradesh (726), and Uttar Pradesh (710). Personal vendetta or enmity was another prominent motive, with 3,761 cases reported last year. Bihar (804), Madhya Pradesh (364), and Karnataka (353) topped the list in this category.
According to the NCRB data, other motives for murder included dowry-related issues, witchcraft, child/human sacrifice, communal/religious conflicts, casteism, political reasons, class conflicts, honor killings, and love affairs. Family disputes, illicit relationships, extremism/insurgency, robberies, gang rivalries, property/land disputes, and petty quarrels were also identified as motives behind the murders in 2022.
