Kolkata Is The Safest City With Least Crime Rate For Third Year In Row: NCRB

Kolkata recorded the least number of cognisable offences per lakh population and witnessed a drop of 16 per cent in cases as compared to 2021.

Iconic yellow ambassador taxis driving past the Howrah Bridge in Kolkata

For the third year in a row, Kolkata has been declared as the safest city in India with least number of cognisable offences per lakh population, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2022 data. In 2022, Kolkata recorded the least number of cognisable offences per lakh population -- 86 cases per lakh people.

The city has witnessed a drop of 16 per cent in cases as compared to last year. According to the NCRB 2021 data, the city recorded 103.4 cases of cognisable offences per lakh people. The rankings were decided after comparing Kolkata against 18 other cities that have a population of over two million.

According to the latest NCRB data, based on cases recorded and shared by the state governments to the Centre, the metropolitan city was followed by Maharashtra's Pune, with 280.7 cases per lakh people and Telangana's Hyderabad with 299.2 cases per lakh people, PTI reported.

West Bengal minister and Trinamool Congress leader Shashi Panja said that the crime rate in the state had decreased. "Kolkata has been declared as the safe city for the third consecutive time in the NCRB data. The crime rate has decreased in the state," ANI quoted Panja as saying.

#WATCH | Kolkata: West Bengal Minister and TMC leader Shashi Panja speaks on the NCRB data which shows Kolkata as the 'safest city'.

"Kolkata has been declared as the safe city for the third consecutive time in the NCRB data... The crime rate has decreased in the state...,"… pic.twitter.com/Ydsl2UKrOn

— ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2023

Panja said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had always prioritised empowerment for all sections and gender security. "Our government is progressive and non-discriminatory. We feel proud that Kolkata Police is receiving this recognition. Just think of the just-concluded Durga Puja when millions descended on the city but not one incident got reported," Panja told Times of India.

Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra also thanked CM Mamata Banerjee and hit out at BJP. "Kolkata safest city with least crime rates for 3rd consecutive year says NCRB crime report 2022. Thank you Mamata Banerjee for keeping us safe. Maybe if BJP and their trolls could learn to read they'd shut up now," Moitra posted on X.

Kolkata safest city with least crime rates for 3rd consecutive year says NCRB crime report 2022.

Thank you @MamataOfficial for keeping us safe. Maybe if @BJP4India & their trolls could learn to read they’d shut up now.

— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) December 5, 2023

Increase In Crimes Against Women Sees Rise

However, the capital of Bengal registered an increase in crimes against women. The number of cases rose from 1,783 in 2021 to 1,890 in 2022, NCRB data showed. The crime rate against women was 27.1 per lakh population, greater than Coimbatore's 12.9 and Chennai's 17.1, in 2022.

Kolkata recorded 11 rape cases in 2022, the same as in 2021 and 2020 but lesser than 2018 and 2017. In 2018 and 2017, 14 and 15 rape cases were reported respectively.