Govt releases white paper on 7.3% rise in crime in 2025

Bhubaneswar: The govt on Wednesday released ‘white paper 2025’ on crime in the assembly, drawing sharp criticism from opposition BJD and Congress over the law and order situation in the state.

The ruling BJP strongly dismissed the allegations, describing Odisha as peaceful.The white paper reported that the state registered 2,29,881 cognizable offences in 2025, compared to 2,14,113 in 2024, marking a 7.3% rise in overall crime.According to the white paper, murder cases saw a marginal increase from 1,258 to 1,304, a 3.6% rise, while certain serious crimes recorded declines. Rape incidents fell from 3,054 to 2,994, dacoity cases dipped slightly from 356 to 353 and robberies dropped more sharply from 2,582 to 1,802.

Ganeswar Behera, the BJD MLA, argued that the increase in crime reflects worsening law and order, alleging that the govt suppressed crime reporting to keep the numbers low. “The govt has deliberately not published the 2024 comparative data in the white paper while sharing the 2025 crime figures. However, a look at the 2024 white paper will show a rise in crimes,” Behera said.Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati linked the rise in crime to unemployment, claiming that women and children remain unsafe, and that incidents ranging from murder to child abduction have increased.

Law and order have collapsed in the state, Bahinipati alleged.Defending the govt, BJP MLA Saroj Kumar Padhi vouched for the accuracy of the white paper. “During the previous regimes, FIRs were not registered. Since June 2024, our govt has adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward crime and criminals,” Padhi said.Irasis Acharya, the BJP MLA, accused the opposition of making baseless allegations, asserting that Odisha is progressing due to a peaceful environment, swift action against criminals and an improved conviction rate.Odisha police said preventive measures have been intensified, including installation of CCTV cameras, vehicle inspections at check points, night blocking and close monitoring of suspicious activities. Surveillance has been strengthened along highways, with hotels, dhabas and shops kept under watch to gather intelligence.“Awareness campaigns are being organized to deter crime, while interstate information exchange ensures swift action against offenders. These measures are aimed at curbing organized crime networks and enhancing public safety across the state,” a senior police officer said.