New Delhi, May 4:: Uttar Pradesh which has the distinction of giving the country its first Dalit woman Chief Minister, also tops the list of states with highest number of cases of crime against Scheduled Castes.

With a staggering 4,960 cases of crime committed against people of Scheduled Castes, Uttar Pradesh tops the list in 2006, according to a Ministry of Home Affairs' data.

The state is closely followed by Madhya Pradesh with 4,214 such cases being registered the same year.

Among states of South India, Andhra Pradesh, where 3,891 such cases were registered in 2006 ranks the highest.

Taken together, the three states - Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh - constituted more than 51 per cent of crimes committed against SCs in the country in 2006.

Analysis of data shows that number of crimes against Scheduled Castes have increased in the country.

While 26,127 cases of crime against SCs were registered in 2005, the subsequent year, saw 27,070 cases being registered. The data for 2007 is yet to be compiled.

As per the data available for for the year 2004-2006, UP has seen a increase in crime against SCs.

While 2004 saw 3,785 such cases being registered, 4,397 cases were recorded in 2005.

AP, where 3,117 cases of crime against SCs were reported in 2005, has also seen an increase in the number.

On the other hand, MP has seen a decline in such cases.

While data for 2006 showed 4,214 cases were registered in the state for crime against SCs, in 2005 the number was 4,222. The year 2004 witnessed the highest number with 4,699 cases being registered.

Among the seven Union Territories, the capital has recorded 21 such cases, which is the highest number.

According to the figures available, the number of persons convicted for crime against SCs under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989, including all IPC crime, in 2005 were 12,468, which increased to 13,449 in 2006.