Uttar Pradesh recorded the maximum number of cases of crimes against children in 2016 – 16,079 – according to the latest data released by the National Crime Records Bureau. Till 2015, the state ranked behind Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh on this parameter.

Compared to 2015, the number of kidnapping and abduction cases involving children went up by 63.31% in Uttar Pradesh this year (see chart below). While the state reported the highest number of cases of abduction of children, murder and unnatural offences as defined by Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra reported the most number of rape cases.

Delhi, which recorded the highest cases of crimes against women in 2016 among metropolitan cities, tops the list of crimes against children when the number of offences are compared with the projected population of children.

Crimes against children increased by 13.58% between 2015 and 2016 across the country, according to the agency, which collects and analyses crime data.