Crime in India: Uncovering the deeper causes behind rising brutality

The gruesome incident in Bengaluru last month left a chilling imprint on the publics mind A 29yearold womanrsquos decomposed body dismembered into over 50 parts and stored in a refrigerator left a deep sense of unease and fear throughout the city Reportedly Mukti Ranjan Ray the prime suspect died by suicide in Odisha leaving a confession note The inquiry indicated that Mahalakshmi was murdered due to a property dispute The police were able to track down the culprit Mukti Ranjan Ray in Odisha but he allegedly died by suicide before he could be caughtHowever this is not the first such horrific killing Last year cases like the Shraddha Walkar murder Mira Road murder and many more were witnessed And each crime was as gruesomendashif not morendashas previous casesSensationalised cases like this one not only grip public attention but also reflect deeper underlying societal issues that demand urgent reflection Such incidents of gore and brute force have reignited the debate on whether crimes are becoming more brutal and whether socioeconomic factors like poverty unemployment and rising societal stress are playing a role in fostering these violent tendenciesMidday spoke to experts to understand whether such acts are caused by broader socioeconomic issues rather than individual moral faultsSocioeconomic factors impact crimesDr Ruchi Sinha Associate Professor at TISS Centre of Criminology and Justice said that the reporting of crimes has increased ldquoViolent crimesmdashsuch as murders rapes grievous hurt and robberiesmdashsignificantly impact society resulting in economic repercussions for survivors and their families as well as emotional and physical tolls on communities Recent data sets have expanded to include deaths by negligence particularly road accidents acid attacks assaults on women sexual harassment hate crimes economic crimes and cybercrimes leading to increased reporting of incidentsrdquo said Dr RuchiWhen asked whether underlying socioeconomic factors were driving increasingly violent crimes Dr Sinha told midday that various factors contribute to rising crimes in IndialdquoOne of the factors is said to be socioeconomic conditions including unemployment and substance abuse which can foster environments conducive to crime Research suggests resource distribution disparities can create resentment potentially driving individuals toward criminal behaviour However its essential to understand these dynamics to develop a nuanced perspective on crime rather than attribute it solely to income inequality said Dr SinhaSystemic issues such as inequality must be addressed to promote social cohesion Additionally economic difficultiesmdashespecially in the wake of the pandemicmdashhave contributed to rising tensions that may lead to increased violent crimesrdquo Dr Sinha said and added that it was crucial to remember that whitecollar crimes like embezzlement and scams can cause widespread harm which ldquooften exceeds the impact of single violent crimerdquoShe said ldquoThese whitecollar crimes undermine economic stability erode trust in institutions and can result in significant financial losses for individuals and communities The ripple effects of whitecollar crime can affect countless lives leading to longterm socioeconomic repercussions that may be more pervasive than those resulting from individual acts of violence Addressing both violent and whitecollar crimes is crucial for fostering a safe and equitable societyrdquoDr Tanaya Kamlakar assistant professor and Director Centre for Research in Criminal Justice Maharashtra National Law University MNLU Mumbai speaking to midday said that brutality of a crime according to her is deeply rooted in psychological factorsldquoKilling someone is just one aspect of the crime what transpires subsequently exposes the perpetrators psychological state Some may commit murder and then attempt to dispose of the body for fear of getting caught as evidenced in cases such as Shraddha Walkar and othersrdquo Dr Tanaya said and added ldquoIn such cases the emphasis is on eliminating evidence However dismembering a body even during disposal necessitates a high level of detachment and psychological harshness This pattern of action which has grown over time reveals a worrying desensitisation to violence and empathy driven in part by a desire to avoid repercussionsrdquoDr Tanaya further stated ldquoThe law tends to focus on the heinousness of the crime and its impact on societyrsquos conscience but this approach overlooks the psychological complexities behind such acts Criminology and victimology reveal varying degrees of intent and emotional responses in these casesmdashsome killers feel regret while others exhibit an increasing level of brutalityrdquoShe said that the psychological shift from murdering to dismembering a body is an indication of a ldquoloss of empathy and an emotional blindnessrdquo which allows the accused persons to continue their actions sans remorseldquoWhile some may argue that dismemberment is simply a way to dispose of the body it cannot completely overshadow the underlying brutality involvedrdquo she addedWhen asked whether she has noticed a pattern in the crimes Dr Tanya said she would rather term it as a ldquodisturbing trendrdquo wherein the perpetrators increasingly have been targeting the vulnerableldquoIn many cases involving sexual harassment and abuse under the POCSO Act or crimes against young women perpetrators identify and exploit their victims emotional or physical fragility For instance in the recent Bengaluru case the victims emotional vulnerability possibly rooted in love or trust towards her partner was manipulated Similarly in the Shraddha Walkar case the perpetrator displayed extreme brutality by softening her body under a shower to make it easier to dismembermdasha chilling example of calculated and premeditated violencerdquo she saidldquoThis demonstrates a combination of savagery rigorous preparation and a complete lack of empathy The pattern indicates that these criminals are increasingly fixated on their victims weaknesses exploiting them as entrance points to assert dominance and control When they recognise vulnerability whether emotional physical or situational they take full advantage of it making the crime even more deliberate and viciousrdquoPsychological factors leading to brutalityIndividuals mental health is another key issue that must be considered while considering the increasing brutality of crimes Mental health practitioners believe that continuous exposure to trauma can lead to the escalation of violent behaviourDr Avinash Desousa Consultant Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist said ldquoMany people who commit acts of cruelty suffer from mental health problems such as antisocial personality disorder or substance abuse Furthermore unresolved trauma particularly from a young age might cause increased aggressionrdquoDr Desouza said that such persons may remember traumatic past experiences and reenact them in violent ways He said that the suppressed rage and violence ldquofrequently manifests itself in harsh behavioursrdquo and that some might even take satisfaction in causing painTrauma processing differs from person to personmdashsome recover while others grow more violent particularly if they were abused or witnessed violence as children Dr Avinash saidHe added ldquoEarly intervention is critical when dealing with trauma It must be addressed quickly to avoid longterm psychological consequences Additionally media exposure particularly to violence on screens and OTT platforms must be controlled To create a healthier mindset schools and institutions should begin teaching emotional intelligence and sensitivity to violence earlyrdquoHe suggested that a dedicated rehabilitation program is essential for firsttime offenders to prevent repeat offences He said it helps break the cycle of criminal behaviourFurthermore identifying atrisk individuals within the community and working with them can reduce their propensity towards criminality providing an effective preventive measure Dr Desouza saidChallenges of preventionLaw enforcement officers have an important role in preventing and combating violent crimes However they frequently confront enormous hurdles especially in cases of extreme crueltyDr Ruchi Sinha said that police are not allowed to be sensitised due to the ldquopolitical powerrdquo Additionally they are also struggling with resourcesldquoThe police are facing a staff crunch criminologists are not allowed in the stations Spending some time at the police station allows us to recognise the patterns of crimes being reported from particular areas If we are allowed to even tackle 20 of 50 cases the police can focus on the other 30 There should be partnerships with NGOs and social workersrdquo added Dr SinhaLegal implications of brutal crimesThe surge in violent crime raises concerns regarding the legal and ethical implications of addressing such instances While the Indian legal system punishes violent offenders there is rising worry that the current rules may not be sufficient to address the underlying causes of crueltyThe judicial aftermath of heinous acts such as the Bengaluru case frequently sparks public outrage and calls for heavier sentences However experts caution that kneejerk reactions may not be the answer Instead a comprehensive strategy addressing the socioeconomic and psychological issues that contribute to such violence is requiredWhen asked whether current legal frameworks were enough to handle such brutal cases Dr Tanaya said ldquoThe ultimate punishmentmdashdeathmdashis already prescribed under the Indian Penal Code IPC Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and contemporary legal systems The issue currently is not the severity of the punishment but how the courts decide whether a case belongs to the rarest of rare category a doctrine that emerged from the Jagmohan caserdquoShe added ldquoThe courts must ensure that even the slightest question is weighed before imposing the death penalty which is a basic violation of a persons right to life A significant example is the Ankush Maruti Shinde case 2018 in which the Supreme Court discharged six convicts after determining that they had been wrongfully convicted despite lower court verdictsrdquoldquoFor the death penalty to be enforced the proof must be beyond residual doubt which means there is no space for error This necessitates substantial indisputable evidence supported by extensive forensic analysis The judiciary must be certain that the accused is guilty beyond all doubt As a result the approach is to ensure rigorous evidence collection rather than enacting tighter legislation The governments authorisation for forensic teams to visit crime scenes is a positive step forward Furthermore effective training for investigating officers IOs is required so that they can gather preserve and present evidence correctly in court lowering the danger of erroneous convictions and strengthening the judicial systemrdquo Dr Tanaya sharedMeanwhile Dr Sinha emphasises ldquoCrime cannot be effectively controlled by legal frameworks alone While laws and regulations are essential for establishing consequences and deterrents they must be part of a broader approach that includes social economic and communitybased strategies We need better social security community harmony and inclusive development to create a more supportive and cohesive environment that deters crime and promotes overall wellbeing and safetyrdquo