The State recorded an overall decline of 2.33 percent in crime during 2025, with a total of 2,28,695 cases reported, down from 2,34,158 cases in 2024.
Published Jan 02, 2026 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Jan 02, 2026 | 7:00 AM
The reduction in rape cases reflects improved policing and victim support mechanisms, officials said.
Synopsis: Telangana recorded an overall decline in crime in 2025, including a 13.45 percent drop in rape cases and reductions in murder, kidnapping and theft, but missing persons cases rose sharply by over 18 percent, according to the State’s annual crime report released by the Director General of Police. Officials flagged the surge in missing persons as a major concern, attributing it to migration, family disputes and trafficking.
Telangana witnessed a 13.45 percent decline in rape cases, from 2,945 in 2024 to 2,549 in 2025, even as missing persons cases surged by 18.11 percent, from 19,373 to 22,882 during the same period, according to the annual crime report released by Director General of Police B Shivadhar Reddy on Tuesday.
The reduction in rape cases reflects improved policing and victim support mechanisms, officials said. Police data revealed a disturbing pattern: in 98.03 percent of rape cases, the accused were known to the survivors.
Of the 2,549 cases, 2,076 involved close family members, friends, lovers or colleagues. Neighbours accounted for 230 cases, while 217 cases involved persons working in proximity to victims, including domestic workers and drivers. Only 26 cases involved unknown persons.
The report noted that sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was newly recorded as a separate category, with 843 cases registered in 2025.
The State recorded an overall decline of 2.33 percent in crime during 2025, with a total of 2,28,695 cases reported, down from 2,34,158 cases in 2024.
Murder cases dropped by 8.76 percent, from 856 to 781. Kidnapping and abduction cases decreased by 24.92 percent, from 1,525 to 1,145. Rioting incidents fell sharply by 42.59 percent, from 324 to 186 cases. Thefts declined from 19,480 to 17,700 cases, with vehicle thefts accounting for 6,930 cases.
Conviction rates also improved significantly. Courts across the State recorded a conviction percentage of 38.72 percent in 2025.
Three accused in POCSO cases received death sentences, while 154 received life imprisonment in the same category. A total of 77 persons were sentenced to life imprisonment in 67 cases of crimes against women.
However, crimes against women showed mixed trends, with an overall increase of 3.16 percent. A total of 20,551 cases across 11 different categories were reported in 2025. Outraging of modesty cases rose by 9.02 percent, from 5,940 to 6,476 cases.
Criminal breach of trust cases increased by 23.11 percent, from 701 to 863 cases, while cheating cases fell from 33,618 to 28,394.
The sharp rise in missing persons cases has also been a major concern. Of the 25,074 persons who remained missing during 2025, police traced 21,754 individuals—an 87 percent trace rate.
Officials attributed the increase to multiple factors, including migration patterns, family disputes and potential trafficking networks. In child protection efforts, 481 trafficking cases were registered, 929 victims were rescued, and 1,277 persons were arrested during the year.
Under Operation Smile and Muskaan, the State rescued 12,396 children, securing the top national ranking for the initiative.
Cybercrime cases in Telangana reduced by 3 percent, against a 41 percent rise nationally. Financial losses declined by 21 percent, from ₹1,753.11 crore in 2024 to ₹1,378.34 crore. The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau arrested 371 accused during the year.
The State witnessed a 39 percent increase in cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, with 2,542 cases registered compared to 1,950 in 2024. The Anti-Narcotics Bureau, renamed EAGLE, seized narcotic substances worth ₹172.93 crore and dismantled six illegal drug manufacturing units.
Road accidents increased by 5.68 percent in 2025, with 24,826 cases reported. However, fatalities decreased by 7.9 percent, from 7,056 deaths to 6,499, while injuries fell by 31.8 percent, from 21,664 to 14,768 persons.
Police attributed the reduction in fatalities to faster emergency response times, which improved from an average of seven minutes to five minutes.
Highlighting the decline of left-wing extremism, Reddy said 509 underground CPI (Maoist) cadres surrendered before Telangana Police in 2025. This included two central committee members, 11 State committee members and three divisional committee secretaries. Of the total, 483 were from Chhattisgarh, 24 from Telangana, and one each from Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.
The DGP announced that the police department had begun identifying personnel with suicidal tendencies and referring them to psychiatrists or psychologists for counselling and treatment.
CID Chief Charu Sinha said the department had developed 25 vulnerability mapping parameters to identify the most affected personnel.
“These have been shared with district SPs, who have been given three months to identify such individuals,” she added.
The police department expanded its infrastructure during the year, opening new police stations in Narayanpet and Jayashankar Bhupalpally districts.
The department also managed large events, including an international football event featuring Lionel Messi and three phases of Gram Panchayat elections, without major law and order incidents.
