- Over 7,400 rapes, 558 murders in three years
Bhopal, Recent data presented during the monsoon session of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly paints a grim picture of the safety and well-being of women, especially those from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).
In a written response to a question by Congress MLA Arif Masood, the state government revealed that between 2022 and 2024, 7,418 women from SC/ST communities were victims of rape, including 338 cases of gang rape.
Equally alarming are the 558 murders of SC/ST women during the same period—147 women from SC backgrounds and 411 from ST communities lost their lives in acts of violence. These figures encompass crimes such as rape, murder, abduction, harassment, domestic violence, and other forms of abuse and discrimination.
Over 7,000 crimes against SC women each year
According to government records, cases registered for crimes against SC women totaled:
* 7,355 in 2022
* 7,343 in 2023
* 7,100 (so far) in 2024
= Similarly, ST women were subjected to:
* 7,498 crimes in 2022
* 7,941 in 2023
* 7,647 in 2024
These statistics highlight a persistent and unrelenting trend of violence.
More than 23,000 women and girls missing in just 18 months
In response to questions from Congress MLAs Bala Bachchan and Sachin Yadav, the government disclosed that between January 2024 and June 2025, a staggering 21,175 women and 1,954 minor girls were reported missing across the state.
During this 18-month period, 10,840 rape cases were registered, involving 4,805 women and 6,035 minors as victims.
District level breakdown reveals hotspots
The number of missing women and girls has crossed 500 in 31 districts, with major urban and semi-urban centers reporting the highest figures:
* Indore: 2,623 cases
* Bhopal: 1,630
* Jabalpur: 1,458
* Chhindwara: 1,157
* Khargone: 1,146
* Dhar: 1,057
* Gwalior: 1,040
