Nagaland has recorded a sharp increase in crimes under Special and Local Laws (SLL) over the past three years, even as offences registered under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) have remained relatively steady, according to the Crime in India 2023 report released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

The state registered a total of 1,899 cognizable cases in 2023, up from 1,592 in 2022 and 1,478 in 2021, reflecting an overall rise of nearly 28 per cent.

The steepest climb was seen in SLL cases, which more than doubled from 445 in 2021 to 849 in 2023 — a 91 per cent jump in just three years. Most of these offences were linked to excise, narcotics, and other local administrative laws.

IPC crimes stable

By contrast, IPC crimes have remained largely steady, with 1,033 cases in 2021, 1,008 in 2022, and 1,050 in 2023. The state’s IPC crime rate stood at 47 per lakh population, far below the national average of 270.3. Property-related offences formed a large share, rising from 1,500 in 2021 to 1,851 in 2023, with theft and burglary being the most common. Murder cases increased modestly from 14 in 2021 to 19 in 2023, while kidnapping and abduction cases fell from four to two. Offences against public tranquillity, including rioting and unlawful assembly, reached 138 cases in 2023. Crimes involving arms and explosives declined consistently, with just one case each under the Arms Act and Explosives Act last year.

The report highlighted that crimes against women and children remain negligible in the state. Nagaland registered only three rape cases and one trafficking case in 2023, while the crime rate against women stood at 0.3 per lakh population, compared to the national average of 66.2. Child-related offences were also minimal, with 16 cases under the Juvenile Justice Act in 2023 and no cases under the POCSO Act in the past three years.

Rise in cyber and economic offences

Technology-driven crimes showed an upward trend, with cybercrime cases rising from two in 2021 to six in 2023. Economic offences such as cheating, fraud, and forgery also increased, from 15 in 2021 to 27 in 2023.

The state reported no crimes in the last three years under categories such as offences against senior citizens, atrocities against SCs/STs, environment-related crimes, crimes involving foreigners, or fake currency seizures.

Lowest crime rate in the Northeast

With a projected mid-year population of 22.4 lakh, Nagaland’s total of 1,899 cases in 2023 was the lowest among Northeastern states. Assam topped the list with 64,959 cases, followed by Manipur (20,283), Mizoram (4,050), Meghalaya (3,532), Arunachal Pradesh (2,941), and Sikkim (718). Despite the rise in SLL cases, Nagaland’s combined rate of cognizable crimes under IPC and SLL stood at 84.9, the lowest in the region, while all other Northeastern states, including Sikkim, reported rates above 100.

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