New Delhi: Delhi Police might have raised
its strength by over 22,000 men since 2007, but it appears to
have done little to help check crime with the Capital
registering more murders and rapes in the first half of this
year compared to the same period during previous three years.
According to official statistics, the capital has
registered 274 cases of murders in the first six months of
this year compared to 254 during the same period last year and
259 in 2008. The corresponding figure for 2007 is 215.
Similarly, rape cases also have increased during the
period with 277 cases being reported as against last year`s
237. In 2008, the figure was 258 though 2007 recorded the
highest of 297.
Delhi Police has a total of around 80,000 personnel in
its force with 22,160 being added in the past three years.
Cases of dacoity, kidnapping for ransom and robbery
also registered an increase during the same period compared to
the previous years. While 318 robbery cases were registered
this year till June 30, there were only 258 cases last year
during the same period. 262 cases were recorded in 2008 and
264 in 2007.
However, senior police officials said that there was
no spurt in crime. They even claimed that the rate of crime is
the lowest in the last 40 years.
"There is no spurt in crime. We have the lowest crime
rate. The population has increased and so the number of
crimes. If you take the crime per one lakh population, it is
only 281.05 this year," a senior police official said.
"The crime per one lakh population is the yardstick
followed world-wide and it has come down from 286.32 in 2008
to 283.50 last year," he said.
A total of 28,270 criminal cases were registered this
year so far with motor vehicle thefts topping the list
followed by 3,317 theft cases.
The official said the involvement of first timers in
crimes is increasing.
Out of the 483 people arrested on charges of murder
this year, 449 or 93 per cent of them were first timers.
Similarly out of the 346 arrested for rape, 343 were first
timers. 737 out of 807 people arrested for snatching were
first timers, the official said.
PTI
