MP tops in escapes from police custody in 2024: NCRB

Bhopal: Every fourth day, a person escapes from police custody in Madhya Pradesh. According to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, the state is number one in the country when it comes to people escaping from police custody.In 2024, at least 89 people escaped from the police custody in MP, followed by Bihar and Rajasthan with 58 escapes each from police custody in both states.MP police could not rearrest 40% of the total absconders from its custody. Of the 89 people, 36 remain at large, while 53 were rearrested, according to the NCRB’s “Crime in India 2024” report released on May 6.The rearrest rate in Bihar and Rajasthan is almost the same. In Bihar, 20 of the 58 absconders remained at large, while in Rajasthan, 19 of the 58 absconders were not apprehended.The NCRB classified the escapes from police custody in two heads — from lock-up and from outside lock-up. In MP, out of the 89 fugitives, 6 were from lock-up, and the remaining 83 from outside lock-up.The trend is the same in Rajasthan and Bihar as well. The majority of escapes are from outside lock-ups, while in police custody. In Bihar, out of 58 escapes, 49 were from outside lock-up. In Rajasthan, out of 58 escapes, 56 were from outside lock-ups.Despite having the highest number, not a single case was registered in MP against police for negligence after an escape from custody, according to the NCRB. Bihar and Rajasthan had two cases each registered against police for negligence.The total number of people escaping from police custody in the country in 2024 is 730.