West Bengal tops States in crimes by foreigners; Bangladeshis top accused: NCRB

According to the latest NCRB data, the highest number of foreign nationals arrested in connection with criminal cases across the country in 2024 were Bangladeshi nationals at 3,091, followed by Nigerians at 509, Nepalis at 476 and Myanmar nationals at 245.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, West Bengal recorded the highest number of crimes committed by foreigners among the states at 992, while Delhi ranked first among the Union Territories in both crimes committed by foreigners and crimes committed against them.

With 64 cases, Delhi recorded the highest number of crimes against foreigners among UTs.

According to data, a total of 4,794 foreign nationals, including 944 women and 11 transgender people, were arrested in criminal cases in the country in 2024. These were mostly registered under the Foreigners Act and the Foreigners Registration Act, followed by the Passport Act and the NDPS Act.

Among IPC/BNS offences, foreigners were most frequently charged with forgery, with 127 cases; then theft, 112; cheating, 78; and murder, 45.

Of the total 3,091 cases filed against Bangladeshi citizens, 1,676 cases were registered under the Foreigners Act and the Aliens Registration Act; this accounts for 54.2% of the total. This was followed by the Passport Law with 1,283 cases (41.5 percent).

Of the 509 cases involving Nigerians, the highest number was reported under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at 259, followed by the Foreigners Act and Foreigners Registration Act with 136 cases.

Nepalese citizens were mostly registered under the NDPS Act with 129 cases, or 27.1% of the total 476 cases. This figure was followed by other Special and Local Law (SLL) crimes with 112 cases (23.5%) and theft with 90 cases (18.9%).

NCRB data showed that crimes against foreigners increased from 238 cases in 2023 to 257 in 2024. Among the states, Maharashtra recorded the highest number of such cases with 41, followed by Karnataka with 32.

The highest number of cases in the category was theft with 62 cases, followed by “other IPC/BNS offences” with 41 cases, “other SLL offences” with 28 cases and cases under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act with 25 cases.

The report also recorded 20 cases of rape, 17 cases of assault on women with intent to violate their chastity, 15 cases of murder and 13 cases of kidnapping involving foreign victims.

Of the 257 foreign victims, 156 were tourists and 101 were other citizens residing or staying in the country.

Nepali citizens constituted the highest number of foreign victims with 71, followed by Bangladeshi citizens with 52, Myanmar citizens with 16 and United States citizens with 15.