16 married women die every day in India due to dowry-related violence: Report

NEW DELHI: An average of 16 women were killed every day in India in 2024 due to dowry-related violence, according to data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). The NCRB report shows that 5737 women lost their lives in 2024 in cases linked to dowry harassment, domestic violence or suspicious deaths after marriage.

The shocking figures were released by the NCRB on May 6. In recent months, several dowry harassment and murder cases from different states had attracted national attention. The report indicates a growing number of incidents in which young women are being killed within a short period after marriage.

According to the NCRB’s 'Crime in India 2024' report, Delhi recorded the highest number of dowry death cases among metropolitan cities for the fifth consecutive year. In 2024, the national capital reported 111 deaths in 109 dowry death cases.

Uttar Pradesh reported the highest number of dowry harassment cases at 7,151, followed by Bihar with 3,665 cases and Karnataka with 2,322 cases.

The report also stated that 6,156 women were killed in dowry death cases in 2023, with the highest number of deaths reported from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Under Section 80 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (previously Section 304B of the IPC), a case is registered as a dowry death if a woman dies under unnatural circumstances within seven years of marriage and there is evidence that she faced cruelty or harassment related to dowry demands shortly before her death.