Aizawl, August 18: Cases of abuse and violence against women are witnessing a sharp rise in Mizoram, officials of the Women and Child Development Department revealed on Monday. Despite women holding a dominant role in Mizo society, the data paints a grim picture of growing domestic and non-domestic abuse across the state.

According to department records, an alarming 7,481 cases of women abuse were reported between April and July 2025 through its helpline system, averaging more than 1,870 cases per month. In comparison, during the 2024–25 financial year, around 13,994 incidents were recorded, with monthly averages of about 1,166 cases.

Officials said that women aged 18 to 40 years account for 71 per cent of the victims, while 18 per cent are between 40 and 60 years old, and 2.5 per cent are above 60. Disturbingly, 4.5 per cent of cases involve teenage girls, pointing to rising threats faced by younger populations.

The abuse falls into two broad categories—domestic and non-domestic. Domestic abuse includes physical violence, verbal threats, sexual assault, financial exploitation, and forced intoxication using drugs or alcohol. Non-domestic abuse comprises online harassment, stalking, sexual abuse over digital platforms, and actions intended to damage a woman’s reputation or cause social stigmatisation.

Authorities said the Cybercrime Police Station in Aizawl is already handling a rising number of digital abuse cases, underscoring the growing role of technology in perpetuating crimes against women. Alongside the government’s efforts, NGOs and civil society organisations are also working to combat the crisis.

“The government is committed to addressing these violations and ensuring perpetrators are brought to justice,” an official said, stressing the urgent need for collective action to curb the rising trend of violence against women in Mizoram.