Nagpur is witnessing a worrying rise in crime against women, with rape, abduction and eve-teasing cases piling up in the city. Data obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act by RTI activist Abhay Kolarkar from the Nagpur City Police show a substantial number of cases being registered against women even as the city is only seven months into 2026.

 

As many as 154 rape cases have been registered till July 30, compared with 214 during the whole of 2025. This means the city has already recorded nearly 72 per cent of last year’s total. Similarly, 215 abduction cases have been registered against 387 in 2025, while 258 cases of eve-teasing have been reported against 361 throughout last year. The figures do not indicate a uniform year-on-year rise — rape and eve-teasing cases had declined between 2024 and 2025, while abduction cases increased — but the pace of cases recorded this year raises concerns about the safety of women and girls in the city. Advocate Smita Singalkar said the response to such crimes also needs a fundamental change in the way society views victims.

 

“Whether it is a minor crime like stalking or eve-teasing or a serious crime like rape or murder, we are quick to question the victim — whether she was out late, drinking, going to parties or wearing short clothes. When we blame the victim, we take accountability away from the perpetrator,” she said. She also stressed the need for proper sex education in schools, saying children need safe spaces to understand consent, boundaries, and healthy relationships. Without this, they may seek information through social media, where they can be exposed to distorted ideas about sex and relationships. Singalkar also emphasised the need to examine the behaviour children witness at home and provide survivors of sexual violence with sustained psychological support, as the mental scars can often outlast the physical wounds.