Jajpur, Ganjam Record Highest Crimes Against Women in Odisha 2025

Bhubaneswar: Odisha recorded thousands of cases of crimes against women and minor girls in 2025, with significant variations across districts in FIR registrations, arrests, pending investigations and conviction rates under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The data was presented in the Assembly on Monday by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in reply to a question from Sagar Charan Das.

The Chief Minister shared district-wise quarterly statistics on cases registered, action taken and conviction rates under POCSO, while informing the House that data related to IPC/Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita convictions and juvenile offenders is still under compilation.

According to the details furnished, districts such as Jajpur, Ganjam, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Balasore and Cuttack consistently reported high numbers of FIRs throughout the year.

Jajpur recorded 560 FIRs in the first quarter, 673 in the second, 661 in the third and 601 in the fourth quarter, placing it among the highest in the state. Ganjam registered 435 cases in Q1, peaked at 576 in Q2, followed by 554 in Q3 and 405 in Q4. Mayurbhanj also showed a similar trend with 470 cases in Q1, 549 in Q2, 515 in Q3 and 427 in Q4.

Urban Police Districts reflected notable figures as well. UPD Bhubaneswar reported 183 FIRs in the first quarter, which rose sharply to 337 in the fourth quarter, indicating an upward trend in reported cases. UPD Cuttack registered 312 FIRs in Q1 and 251 in Q4.

Meanwhile, pending investigations remained substantial across districts. Jajpur had 499 pending cases in Q1 and 491 in Q4, while Ganjam reported 300 pending investigations in Q1, reducing to 189 by the end of the year. Arrest figures varied across districts, with Puri recording 108 arrests in Q3 and Bolangir reporting 110 arrests in Q4. Mayurbhanj maintained relatively high arrest numbers, including 105 in Q1 and 107 in Q2.

Annexure-B of the reply highlighted wide disparities in conviction rates under the POCSO Act. Bargarh recorded a conviction rate of 68.8% (11 convictions out of 16 completed trials), while Jajpur reported 45.5% (46 out of 101) and UPD Cuttack 45.8% (27 out of 59). Sundargarh registered a conviction rate of 32.7% (17 out of 52). A few districts, including Puri, Sonepur and Angul, reported 100% conviction rates; however, the number of completed trials in these districts was very low.

On the other hand, several districts recorded poor conviction performance.

Kalahandi reported a conviction rate of 4.1% (6 out of 145), Boudh 6.7% (2 out of 30), and Bolangir 7.5% (3 out of 40). Rayagada and Bhadrak reported zero convictions despite having completed trials.