West Bengal’s Dark Reality: Highest Acid Attacks Despite Drop in Crime Against Women

West Bengal has emerged as the country's hotspot for acid attacks, accounting for over a quarter of all such incidents in 2023, even as overall crimes against women in the state saw a slight dip, according to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report released on September 29. The "Crime in India 2023" data reveals 207 acid attack cases nationwide under Section 326A of the Indian Penal Code, with West Bengal registering 57—representing 27.5% of the total. This persistent trend underscores gaps in prevention and enforcement, despite stricter laws and awareness campaigns aimed at curbing gender-based violence in a state long criticised for its handling of women's safety issues.

The NCRB figures indicate a marginal 1.2% decline in overall crimes against women in West Bengal, from 30,456 cases in 2022 to 30,112 in 2023, bucking a national uptick of 0.7%. However, acid attacks bucked this downward trajectory, rising from 49 cases in 2022 to 57 last year, primarily concentrated in urban pockets like Kolkata and Howrah. Activists attribute this to easy access to corrosive substances, weak implementation of the 2013 acid sale regulations, and socio-economic factors such as family disputes and rejected marriage proposals.

"While the drop in broader crimes is welcome, acid attacks remain a barbaric tool of control, disproportionately affecting young women from marginalised communities," said Kavita Krishnan, a women's rights advocate. The state government's Women and Child Development Department has pledged enhanced victim compensation and fast-track courts, but data shows only 40% conviction rates in such cases.

Nationally, acid attacks continue to plague India, with Uttar Pradesh (32 cases) and Madhya Pradesh (21) trailing West Bengal. The NCRB report, compiled from police records across 36 states and union territories, highlights a complex picture: while dowry deaths fell 4.2% to 6,436, cybercrimes against women surged 12.5% amid digital proliferation. In West Bengal, domestic violence remains the most reported offence at 14,567 cases, followed by cruelty by husbands (8,921).

The Mamata Banerjee administration has touted initiatives like the "Kanyashree" scheme for girl child empowerment, yet opposition parties, including the BJP, have slammed the NCRB findings as evidence of governance failures. "These numbers expose the hollow rhetoric on women's safety; we need zero tolerance, not statistics," BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said.

Also Read: Who’s Behind Zubeen Garg’s Tragic Death? Two More Arrests Deepen Mystery

The report's release coincides with ongoing national debates on gender justice, amplified by high-profile cases and Supreme Court directives for acid attack survivor rehabilitation. With Dussehra festivities underway, women's groups in Kolkata are organising awareness drives, urging stricter vendor checks on acids used in household cleaners. As India marks its 77th year of independence, the NCRB data serves as a sobering call for systemic reforms, from better policing to community education, to transform marginal gains into lasting security for women.

Also Read: Canadian Theatre Cancels Indian Films After Violent Targeted Incidents