India’s metropolitan cities recorded a marginal fall in murder cases in 2024, but NCRB data shows violent crime continues to pressure several urban centres. Across 19 metro cities, authorities registered 1,987 murder cases in 2024, down from 2,004 in 2023, indicating a slow but steady decline.
Delhi remained the most affected metro city in absolute numbers. The capital recorded 504 murder cases in 2024, nearly one-fourth of the national metro total. Police attributed a large share of cases to personal enmity, relationship disputes and organised crime. Gang rivalry and street violence also surfaced repeatedly, keeping law enforcement on alert throughout the year.
Patna, however, topped the list in terms of murder rate. The city recorded 106 murders, but its murder rate stood at 5.2 per lakh population—the highest among all metro cities. Police investigations showed most cases linked to land disputes, local rivalries and student-related conflicts. The killing of Patna University student Harsh Raj drew major public attention and triggered protests across campuses.
BIHAR: Harsh Raj (22), an emerging student leader from Patna University, was brutally beaten to death with hockey sticks & other weapons at Patna University’s Law College by 7-8 assailants
The incident took place at about 1pm when Harsh Raj, stepped out of the examination hall… pic.twitter.com/Dg1FdWvRZc
— Ashwini Shrivastava (@AshwiniSahaya) May 27, 2024
Other metros showed mixed patterns. Bengaluru reported 176 murders, while Surat recorded 114 cases. Mumbai registered 107 murders and Chennai reported 105. Kolkata saw a slight rise in cases but maintained one of the lowest murder rates due to its large population base.
Regional patterns remained sharp. Northern cities such as Delhi, Lucknow and Kanpur continued to report higher murder rates compared to southern metros. Chennai, Kochi and Hyderabad performed relatively better, reflecting lower violent crime levels and stronger policing outcomes.
Investigation efficiency also varied widely. Coimbatore, Kochi and Kozhikode achieved 100 per cent chargesheeting in murder cases. Chennai followed closely with 96.8 per cent. In contrast, Jaipur reported the weakest performance at 53.3 per cent, followed by Patna and Lucknow, highlighting gaps in investigation speed and conviction readiness.
Officials of the National Crime Records Bureau clarified that raw murder numbers should not be viewed in isolation. Population size, urban density and policing systems vary significantly across cities, affecting crime comparison.
Still, the 2024 data presents a clear picture. Delhi continues to lead in total murders, while Patna records the highest proportional violence. Both cities highlight different but serious challenges in India’s urban crime landscape.
