Sat Oct 04 23:22:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
The Trinamool Congress (TMC), the ruling party in West Bengal, is touting Kolkata’s low crime rate as per the recently released National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report. They claim Kolkata has the lowest crime rate among major Indian cities for the fourth consecutive year. However, the BJP disputes these claims, alleging data manipulation by the West Bengal government. They also point to other NCRB findings showing West Bengal has the highest number of acid attacks in the country. Furthermore, experts highlight discrepancies between the NCRB data and the reality of political violence in the state, citing the deadly panchayat polls in 2023. The article notes that even on the day the TMC celebrated Kolkata’s safety, there were reports of multiple violent deaths in and around the city.
**News Article:**
**Kolkata Crime Stats Spark Political Clash: TMC Hails ‘Safest City’ Claim, BJP Alleges Data Manipulation**
**Kolkata, October 5, 2025:** A political battle has erupted in West Bengal over recently released crime statistics, with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) claiming victory while the opposition BJP alleges manipulation.
The TMC is celebrating the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, which indicates Kolkata has the lowest crime rate among 19 major Indian cities (populations exceeding 2 million) for the fourth consecutive year. Ministers like Chandrima Bhattacharya and Sashi Panja have taken to social media to praise Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s leadership for creating a safe environment, particularly for women.
“Kolkata reaffirms its position for the fourth time as India’s safest city, a reflection of Hon’ble Chief Minister @mamataofficial’s vision and her zero tolerance approach to crime,” the Trinamool posted on social media.
However, the BJP is vehemently disputing these claims. Spokesperson Keya Ghosh accuses the West Bengal government of feeding manipulated data to the NCRB. She also pointed out that the same NCRB report highlights West Bengal’s grim record of having the highest number of acid attacks in India in 2023.
Beyond the political sparring, experts are questioning the accuracy of the NCRB data when compared to the on-ground reality. They point to the rampant political violence that plagued the state during the 2023 panchayat polls, where about 50 deaths were recorded, in stark contrast to the NCRB’s report of just one political murder in West Bengal for the entire year.
Adding to the controversy, reports emerged on Saturday of three violent deaths – one in Baranagar and two in Murshidabad district – casting a shadow over the TMC’s claims of a safe Kolkata. This incident further fuels the debate on whether the NCRB statistics accurately reflect the law and order situation in West Bengal. The discrepancy between the official data and the grim reality on the ground raises serious questions about the validity of the statistics and their use in political maneuvering.
First Piper 