Odisha Crime Rate Sees Sharp Rise in 2025, White Paper Reveals

Bhubaneswar: Odisha witnessed a significant surge in crime during 2025, with cognizable offences climbing by 7.36% to 2,29,881 cases, according to the white paper tabled in the Assembly.

Murders rose by 3.65% to 1,304 cases — averaging one killing every 6.7 hours.

Thefts saw the steepest increase at 19.02%, totalling 21,192 cases. Cybercrime also surged by 12.07%, with 2,803 cases registered, more than half linked to economic offences.

Road accidents rose 3.29% to 12,782 cases.

Crimes against women remained a pressing concern. Odisha reported 2,994 rape cases, averaging one every three hours, alongside 4,361 dowry cases, 145 dowry deaths, and 164 instances of women trafficking.

Despite these alarming figures, the government maintained that the state’s law and order situation was “largely peaceful.” Police filed charge sheets in 67.52% of overall cases, including 64.46% of rape cases and 46% of murder cases.

Cybercrime arrests stood at 744 out of 1,210 identified accused.

While dacoity, snatching, and cheating cases showed marginal declines, the overall crime trajectory points to growing challenges for law enforcement in Odisha.