Bengaluru leads India in dowry complaints: Rising awareness or crime?

Representative photo

Bengaluru reported the highest number of dowry-related complaints in India, with a total of 1,013 cases in 2023, according to the latest data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). This figure alone surpassed the combined total of 18 other metro cities in the country. Patna came in second with just 104 cases, while Lucknow reported only 19.

However, police officials say that this rise in reported cases does not necessarily indicate a surge in dowry crimes. Instead, it reflects that more women are coming forward to report abuse.

According to the experts, Bengaluru’s strong network of women’s rights organisations and increased awareness among working women have encouraged victims to speak out, The Hindu reported.

Two recent deaths in the city have brought the issue of dowry harassment into sharp focus. N Poojashri, from Bhadravati in Shivamogga district, was found dead in her Bagalagunte home. Her husband, J Nandish, has been detained in connection with the case. According to reports, she faced repeated harassment over dowry from both her husband and mother-in-law. The couple had been married for three years and had a two-year-old child.

In another tragic case, 27-year-old Shilpa, a tech professional, was found hanging in her South Bengaluru residence. Her family alleged that persistent dowry-related pressure and harassment led to her death. Shilpa had been married to Praveen, a former software engineer, for about two and a half years. The couple has an 18-month-old child.

Beyond dowry, overall crimes against women, children, and the elderly have risen in Karnataka. In 2023, crimes against women increased by more than 14 percent, while cases involving children and senior citizens also showed a significant rise.

In Bengaluru specifically, crime rates went up across almost all categories, including violence, murder, abduction, and attacks on vulnerable groups such as Scheduled Castes and senior citizens. Notably, crimes against women in the city increased by over 24 percent.

While Karnataka saw small decreases in certain crimes like murders and atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Tribes, Bengaluru did not show any decline in any major crime category in 2023. The state also recorded high numbers of road accident fatalities, with 12,322 deaths, and over 13,000 suicides, ranking fourth highest in India.