Murders linked to witchcraft recorded, NCRB 2024
NCRB recorded 54 murders with witchcraft as the motive in 2024. Madhya Pradesh had the most (17), then Chhattisgarh (10) and Odisha (7). Nagaland has the highest rate, 4.42 per crore, from one case, and Chhattisgarh is next at 3.26 from ten. Twenty-five states and territories recorded none.
Policy implication
The table counts murders only. Assaults, banishment and other harm done to people branded as witches are not in it, and a murder is recorded under this motive only if the police write it down. With counts this small, a single case moves a small state to the top.
The table counts murders only. Assaults, banishment and other harm done to people branded as witches are not in it, and a murder is recorded under this motive only if the police write it down. With counts this small, a single case moves a small state to the top.
Data vintage. The figures are for 2024 and have not been refreshed since this map was made.
Source: NCRB (Crime in India 2024) (2024). See the methodology for notes and limitations.
Part of ImpactMojo. Maps are pedagogical tools for facilitated discussion, not standalone data references. CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.