Representative image

BENGALURU: The Karnataka capital accounted for 81% of the dowry cases reported in India’s 20 most populated cities in 2018. Experts said it could be due to an efficient enforcement system that allows reporting of such cases.

Bengaluru reported 692 of 851 cases under the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, while 19 other cities, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata, accounted for 159, according to the latest data released by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

Of the 159 cases, Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh (66) and Patna in Bihar (62) accounted for 128 cases.

Maximum crimes against women

The high number of dowry-related cases has pushed Bengaluru to the top position in terms of crimes against women, accounting for 53% of all cases, followed by Chennai in Tamil Nadu (17%), and Mumbai (8%).

Bengaluru reported 772 of the 1,454 crimes against women, while Chennai and Mumbai recorded 243 and 81, respectively.

Pocso and other child-related cases

When it comes to cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, 2012, Bengaluru stands at the third position after Delhi and Mumbai.

A total of 5,598 Pocso cases were reported in 2018, of which Delhi accounted for 1,455 (over 26%). This was followed by Mumbai with 1,144 (20%) and Bengaluru with 406 (7%).

In all, Delhi reported 1,581 of the 6,500 cases under various child-related laws, followed by Mumbai (1,246) and Bengaluru (442).

