Bhubaneswar: Odisha has been witnessing a rise in crime against children with 8577 cases being reported in 2023 against 8240 in 2022 and 7899 in 2021, according to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report.

Kidnapping was the most prevalent crime, with 5,978 cases involving 5,979 children, equating to a rate of 41.5 per lakh children. Of these, 5,905 were general abductions, including 5,871 cases where missing children were classified as kidnapped. Additionally, 60 minor girls were abducted for forced marriage. ADVERTISEMENT

One kidnapping was related to ransom.

A total of 2,381 cases were reported under the POCSO Act, affecting 2,391 children. Of these, 1,631 cases involved rape under Sections 4 and 6 (penetrative and aggravated penetrative sexual assault), all targeting

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