Prateeksha Thakur 
While Himachal Pradesh continues to record lower crime rates than many Indian States, the NCRB 2024 data points to rising violent offences, persistent crimes against women and weak cyber-crime convictions
As per the latest latest Crime in India 2024 report released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) Himachal still ranks among the lower-crime States in the country. Yet a closer reading of the data shows that some trends inside the hill State are beginning to shift.
The states overall ranking might be on the safer side but the Violent crime is rising, Complaints linked to women’s safety continue to persist and the nature of crime in the State is changing.
The NCRB report, published annually by the Ministry of Home Affairs, compiles crime data sent by police departments across States and Union Territories. The bureau itself has repeatedly cautioned that States should not be judged only on absolute crime numbers because population size varies sharply across the country and crime rate per lakh population offers a more reliable comparison.
One of the clearest shifts in Himachal Pradesh came in violent crime. The State recorded 2,091 violent crimes in 2024, up from 1,869 the previous year. The violent crime rate stood at 27.8 per lakh population.
The figure is still far lower than Bihar’s 83 and Haryana’s 48.2. But the increase matters because Himachal Pradesh has traditionally projected itself as a socially stable and relatively peaceful State. Retired police officials in Shimla say smaller disputes are increasingly escalating into violent confrontations, particularly in expanding urban clusters and tourist-heavy belts.
Officers in Kullu and Mandi have also pointed over the years to rising narcotics abuse among young people. Drug-related arrests in parts of the State have steadily increased, particularly in regions linked to tourism and interstate movement.
Now coming to the crime against women, state recorded 1,605 cases in 2024 compared to 1,604 the previous year and the crime rate stood at 43.3 per lakh women population.
These Crimes involve online harassment complaints involving fake social media profiles, extortion threats and non-consensual circulation of images.
Cybercrimes which see increase of over 17% from the last year nationally remains low in Himachal, with a number of 148 cases in 2024.
However, court data from the NCRB, reveals another side of the problem. Himachal Pradesh recorded zero convictions in cyber-crime cases during 2024, while 19 accused were acquitted. While state registered 62 cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act in 2024.
Human trafficking numbers also remained limited in comparison with major States. Himachal Pradesh recorded 46 trafficking cases in 2024.
The NCRB report also recorded 247 cases of crimes against Scheduled Castes in Himachal Pradesh, with a crime rate of 14.3.
Missing children figures remained relatively low, though police agencies treat even small increases seriously in hill districts where communities are tightly connected. NCRB data recorded 34 missing boys and 47 missing girls in Himachal Pradesh under the child category during 2024.
One area where the State police performed comparatively well was property recovery. Property worth nearly ₹17.5 crore was reported stolen during the year, while approximately ₹8.7 crore was recovered. The recovery rate stood close to 50%.
Juvenile crime continued to remain among Himachal Pradesh’s stronger indicators. The State recorded only 11 cases involving juveniles under Special and Local Laws during 2024.
The NCRB figures do not suggest that Himachal Pradesh is facing a law-and-order crisis. What the data does indicate is a gradual shift in the kind of crimes emerging across Himachal Pradesh. Cyber fraud, drug-linked violence, crimes against women in urban pockets and trafficking concerns linked to tourism are appearing more frequently in police records than they did a decade ago.
For a State that has long relied on the image of social stability, low crime and close-knit communities, those shifts may matter as much as the numbers themselves.
FAQ | NCRB Crime in India 2024 Report
1. What is the NCRB report?
The Crime in India 2024 report is an annual report released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It contains official crime data from all States and Union Territories.
2. What does the report say about Himachal Pradesh?
The report says Himachal Pradesh remains one of the relatively safer States in India, but concerns such as rising violent crime, crimes against women, and weak cyber crime convictions need attention.
3. How many violent crimes were reported in Himachal Pradesh?
Himachal Pradesh recorded 2,091 violent crimes in 2024, up from 1,869 in 2023.
4. What does the report say about women’s safety?
The State recorded 1,605 crimes against women in 2024, with a crime rate of 43.3 per lakh women population.
5. Is cyber crime increasing in Himachal Pradesh?
Himachal Pradesh reported 148 cyber crime cases in 2024. However, the State recorded zero convictions in cyber crime cases during the year.
6. Which States reported the highest cyber crimes?
Telangana, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra reported the highest cyber crime numbers in India.
7. What does the report say about corruption in Himachal Pradesh?
The State recorded 62 corruption cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act in 2024.
7. Is juvenile crime high in Himachal Pradesh?
No. Himachal Pradesh recorded only 11 juvenile crime cases under Special and Local Laws in 2024, among the lowest in India.
