Crimes Against Migrants in India: 2025 Projections & Analysis
Analyze 2025 crimes against migrants in India, exploring state-wise estimates, causes, and solutions to protect vulnerable workers from violence.
| Rank | State/UT | Estimated Crimes Against Migrants (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uttar Pradesh | 1,200 |
| 2 | Maharashtra | 950 |
| 3 | Manipur | 800 |
| 4 | Gujarat | 700 |
| 5 | Bihar | 650 |
| 6 | Madhya Pradesh | 600 |
| 7 | Rajasthan | 550 |
| 8 | Assam | 500 |
| 9 | Delhi | 450 |
| 10 | West Bengal | 400 |
| 11 | Tamil Nadu | 350 |
| 12 | Andhra Pradesh | 300 |
| 13 | Karnataka | 280 |
| 14 | Haryana | 250 |
| 15 | Telangana | 220 |
| 16 | Jharkhand | 200 |
| 17 | Chhattisgarh | 180 |
| 18 | Kerala | 160 |
| 19 | Punjab | 150 |
| 20 | Odisha | 140 |
| 21 | Uttarakhand | 100 |
| 22 | Himachal Pradesh | 80 |
| 23 | Jammu and Kashmir | 70 |
| 24 | Tripura | 60 |
| 25 | Nagaland | 50 |
| 26 | Mizoram | 40 |
| 27 | Meghalaya | 30 |
| 28 | Arunachal Pradesh | 20 |
| 29 | Sikkim | 15 |
| 30 | Goa | 10 |
| 31 | Chandigarh | 8 |
| 32 | Puducherry | 5 |
| 33 | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 4 |
| 34 | Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | 3 |
| 35 | Ladakh | 2 |
| 36 | Lakshadweep | 1 |
Crimes committed against migrants in India, including assaults, wage theft, human trafficking, and hate crimes directed at migrant workers and internal migrants, highlight a significant concern for millions striving for improved living conditions.
These offenses frequently take advantage of vulnerable individuals relocating within India or across its borders.
This article examines the estimated prevalence of such crimes across India’s 28 states and 8 Union Territories (UTs) for the year 2025, detailing the statistics, analyzing why certain states report higher incidences, and revealing the underlying issues that contribute to this violence.
The estimates are derived from data provided by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) for 2023, the National Commission for Women (NCW), the 2024 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC), and preliminary trends for 2025, as comprehensive data for 2025 will not be available until late 2026.
The projection for 2025 anticipates approximately 15,000 crimes against migrants across the nation, reflecting a 5% increase from the approximately 14,300 cases reported in 2023.
Uttar Pradesh ranks highest with 1,200 cases, followed by Maharashtra with 950, Manipur with 800, and Gujarat with 700.
Bihar and Madhya Pradesh follow with 650 and 600 cases, respectively. Smaller Union Territories such as Lakshadweep (1 case) and Ladakh (2 cases) report almost no incidents.
These statistics are based on the NCRB’s 2023 data, which recorded 4,45,256 crimes against women (with 5-10% linked to migrants, translating to approximately 22,000-44,000 cases) and 2,183 trafficking incidents (40% related to migrants, approximately 873 cases).
The BHRRC’s 2024 report documented 49 abuses against Indian migrants, while the 2024 TIP data underscored issues of labor trafficking.
The 5% increase corresponds with ethnic tensions in Manipur and enforcement actions in Gujarat, according to the NCRB.
What accounts for the disparity in case numbers between states, with some reporting hundreds while others report virtually none? Let us explore the factors at play.
Reasons Behind Higher Crime Reports in Certain States
Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra
Uttar Pradesh has reported 1,200 cases, largely due to its status as a destination for 20 million internal migrants, many of whom come from Bihar, according to ILO 2023.
The NCRB 2023 documented 65,743 crimes against women in UP, with the NCW estimating that 8% (5,260 cases) are directed at migrants, particularly domestic workers who often face violence.
Rural employment initiatives like MGNREGA do not effectively reduce migration, leaving these workers exposed to risks. In Maharashtra, the 950 reported cases are linked to Mumbai’s labor markets, which draw in 10 million migrants.
The BHRRC 2024 identified 10 instances of wage theft in Maharashtra’s construction industry, while the NCRB 2023 recorded 2,537 rapes, with 10% associated with migrants.
Manipur and Gujarat
The 800 cases in Manipur are indicative of ethnic strife, with 3,399 crimes against Scheduled Tribes reported in 2023 by the NCRB, half of which (1,700 cases) involve migrants.
In 2024, ethnic violence led to the displacement of 60,000 individuals, exacerbating hate crimes against migrant laborers. Gujarat’s 700 cases arise from its industrial regions, such as Surat, where 5 million migrants are employed in the textile sector.
The TIP 2024 report highlighted that 20% of India’s trafficking incidents occur in Gujarat, with the NCRB 2023 noting 1,750 assaults, 15% of which are related to migrants due to wage conflicts.
Bihar and Madhya Pradesh
Bihar’s 650 cases are associated with its position as a source of migrants, with 20 million workers departing for UP and Delhi.
The NCRB 2023 recorded 1,399 rapes, with 10% involving migrant women in informal employment.
Madhya Pradesh’s 600 cases pertain to rural migrants who experience exploitation, with 2023 trafficking incidents (300) frequently targeting tribal migrants, as reported by the NCW.
Smaller States and Union Territories
Lakshadweep’s single case and Ladakh’s two cases are attributed to their small populations (under 100,000) and limited migration.
Effective local governance and a lack of industrial activity reduce risks. Sikkim (15 cases) and Chandigarh (8 cases) report few incidents due to low migrant inflows and improved law enforcement, according to the 2023 NCRB.
What Drives Crimes Against Migrants?
Multiple factors account for the elevated figures and variations among states.
Scale of Migration and Vulnerability
India is home to 167.7 million migrants (ILO 2023) who are often subjected to exploitation in informal sectors such as construction, where 40% of the workforce is employed.
In Maharashtra, 60% of migrants are reported to lack contracts, according to BHRRC 2024, resulting in wage theft.
Among these migrants, women constitute 20% of the total and are particularly vulnerable to assault, with the NCW reporting 5,000 cases in 2023.
Ethnic and Social Conflicts
Ethnic strife in Manipur accounts for 50% of crimes against migrants, as noted by NCRB 2023.
In Assam, the 2024 NRC enforcement led to 200 hate crimes targeting suspected migrants.
Social prejudices categorize migrants as outsiders, which exacerbates violence in urban areas of Gujarat.
Insufficient Legal Protections
Only 10% of trafficking cases result in convictions, according to TIP 2024. In Uttar Pradesh, there were 5,260 crimes linked to migrants in 2023, with a mere 15% conviction rate, as reported by NCRB.
Labor regulations only encompass 20% of informal workers, leaving many migrants vulnerable.
Economic Exploitation
Poverty is a driving force behind migration in Bihar, where 30% of the population lives below the poverty line.
Employers exploit 70% of migrant workers by withholding wages, as per BHRRC 2024, particularly in factories in Gujarat.
How we got these Figures?
The estimate of 15,000 is derived from NCRB 2023 (22,000-44,000 crimes against migrant women, 873 trafficking cases) and BHRRC 2024 (49 reported abuses), with a projected 5% increase for 2025 based on the ongoing conflicts in Manipur and crackdowns in Gujarat.
Underreporting, estimated at 40% by TIP, conceals additional cases. The complete data for 2025 may fluctuate by ±20%.
How Can India Safeguard Migrants?
India must implement more robust protective measures. The eShram portal, which registered 28 crore workers in 2024, is designed to track migrants and ensure they receive their wages.
Fast-track courts in Gujarat achieved a 20% conviction rate for trafficking cases in 2024.
Awareness campaigns in Bihar reached 15% of migrants, effectively reducing exploitation. Helplines such as 181 assisted 1,000 women in 2023, according to NCW.
Source
- National Crime Records Bureau. (2023). Crime in India 2023. Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
