Data revealed by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) for Meghalaya for the year 2024 has raised concerns over the state’s low charge-sheeting and conviction rates despite thousands of cases being registered during the year. According to the NCRB, Meghalaya registered 3,986 IPC/BNS cases and 753 cases under Special and Local Laws (SLL) in 2024. The state recorded a crime rate of 117.7 per lakh population, lower than Assam and several other northeastern states. However, only a small proportion of registered cases resulted in convictions. During 2024, only 466 accused persons were convicted in IPC/BNS and SLL cases combined, while 1,007 accused were acquitted and another 438 discharged.
The NCRB data also brought to the fore that Meghalaya’s charge-sheeting rate stood at 30.6 per cent during the year, indicating that police filed charge-sheets in less than one-third of registered cases. The figures also indicate a significant gap between case registration, investigation and conviction. The statistics further showed a rise in cybercrime and property-related offences in the state. Meghalaya recorded 216 cybercrime cases during 2024, while property offences crossed 1,600 cases. Concerns have been raised over crimes involving vulnerable groups. Meghalaya recorded 84 murder cases involving 90 victims during the year, while crimes against children rose for the third consecutive year to 556 cases. Trial disposal figures also reflected a higher number of acquittals than convictions during 2024, with acquittals outnumbering convictions by more than two to one.