By Mandeep Puri :The year 2009 may have witnessed an increase in the number of murders in Chandigarh but it also registered an increase in the crime detection rate.
According to the figures released by the Chandigarh Police, 22 murders were reported in City Beautiful in 2009 against 17 in 2008, registering an increase of 29.41 per cent. “If there is an increase in murder cases, there has also been an increase in the detection rate. The police worked out 20 murder cases as compared to 14 in 2008, placing the work-out rate at 90.9 per cent in 2009 against 82.35 per cent last year,” Chandigarh SSP, Mr S.S. Srivastava, said
Interestingly, as a percentage of per lakh of population, Chandigarh accounts for least murders as compared to other cities of the country. The murder rate in Chandigarh is 1.69 per lakh of population against three in Delhi; 8.9 in Patna; 6.2 in Faridabad; 4.7 in Lucknow; 4.3 in Bangalore; 3.4 in Puna and 3.3 in Vijayawada. The other cities did not fare too well.
Mr Srivastava said that in 2009, the Chandigarh Police busted as many as 18 gangs involved in auto thefts; laudering fake currency; snatchings; dacoities; robberies and burglaries. “No wonder, many cities are much more lawless as compared to Chandigarh”, quipped Mr Srivastava.
The official figures also indicate that the police secured 100 per cent marks in working out cases of gambling; NDPS; arms; recovery of stolen property and dacoity. In cases of attempt to murder; hurt; rioting; rape; criminal trespass; assault on public servants; excise; the Chandigarh police scored more than 90 per cent work-out marks.
“In Chandigarh, an inordinate proporation of the police force is, at most times, engaged in VVIP security. In 2009, about 12, 178 police officials were deployed for 4,127 events and on VIP duty. Despite constraints, the crime graph under all major heads in 2009 remained under control”, Mr Srivastava added