Recent data and media analyses spanning 2020 to 2024 reveal a disturbing yet under-discussed aspect of domestic violence in india — the murder of husbands by their wives. According to available records from five indian states, approximately 785 such cases were registered over five years, averaging around 157 cases annually.
Extrapolating these figures to a national level, where crime reporting and registration vary widely across states, experts estimate that between 250 and 300 men may be murdered by their wives or in-laws each year. However, due to societal stigma, male victims often hesitate to report abuse or threats, and police stations frequently lack gender-neutral sensitivity in domestic violence cases. This results in significant underreporting and a lack of institutional focus on crimes against men in domestic settings.
In stark contrast, murders of wives by husbands — particularly those motivated by dowry — have remained alarmingly high and consistently documented. From 2017 to 2022, approximately 6,100 such dowry-related murders were reported, averaging over 1,000 per year. Suppose one includes other forms of domestic murders not directly linked to dowry (such as those stemming from interpersonal conflict, abuse, or marital discord).
In that case, the total annual number of women killed by their husbands or in-laws is estimated to be between 6,000 and 7,000. These figures are not only indicative of a persistent gender-based violence problem but also reflect the deeply entrenched patriarchal attitudes that continue to normalize violence against women within the household framework.
The stark numerical imbalance between male and female victims of domestic murder does not negate the seriousness of violence against men; instead, it points to a critical gap in both data collection and public discourse. While violence against women has rightfully garnered attention and legislative focus, the lack of gender-neutral perspectives in domestic violence laws often renders male victims invisible. Both forms of domestic homicide — whether male or female — stem from complex socio-cultural dynamics, power struggles, and systemic failures in conflict resolution mechanisms within families. To address this comprehensively, india needs reforms that ensure equal legal protection for all victims, promote balanced awareness campaigns, and improve data transparency and reliability from agencies like the NCRB.
Extrapolating these figures to a national level, where crime reporting and registration vary widely across states, experts estimate that between 250 and 300 men may be murdered by their wives or in-laws each year. However, due to societal stigma, male victims often hesitate to report abuse or threats, and police stations frequently lack gender-neutral sensitivity in domestic violence cases. This results in significant underreporting and a lack of institutional focus on crimes against men in domestic settings.
In stark contrast, murders of wives by husbands — particularly those motivated by dowry — have remained alarmingly high and consistently documented. From 2017 to 2022, approximately 6,100 such dowry-related murders were reported, averaging over 1,000 per year. Suppose one includes other forms of domestic murders not directly linked to dowry (such as those stemming from interpersonal conflict, abuse, or marital discord).
In that case, the total annual number of women killed by their husbands or in-laws is estimated to be between 6,000 and 7,000. These figures are not only indicative of a persistent gender-based violence problem but also reflect the deeply entrenched patriarchal attitudes that continue to normalize violence against women within the household framework.
The stark numerical imbalance between male and female victims of domestic murder does not negate the seriousness of violence against men; instead, it points to a critical gap in both data collection and public discourse. While violence against women has rightfully garnered attention and legislative focus, the lack of gender-neutral perspectives in domestic violence laws often renders male victims invisible. Both forms of domestic homicide — whether male or female — stem from complex socio-cultural dynamics, power struggles, and systemic failures in conflict resolution mechanisms within families. To address this comprehensively, india needs reforms that ensure equal legal protection for all victims, promote balanced awareness campaigns, and improve data transparency and reliability from agencies like the NCRB.
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