Crime rising in capital: Delhi Police commissioner (Roundup)

NEW DELHI - There was a sharp increase in kidnappings, motor vehicle thefts, fatal road accidents and crimes against senior citizens in Delhi in 2009, with the total criminal cases registered increasing by over one percent during the year, Police Commissioner Y.S. Dadwal said Saturday.

“There was an increase in the total Indian Penal Code (IPC) cases by 1.42 percent. There was a substantial increase in the incidence of kidnapping cases from 1,502 to 2,417 (60.9 percent) due to the decision to register cases straightway in the cases of missing children up to the age of 16,” Dadwal said during the Delhi Police’s annual press conference.

“There was also a major increase in motor vehicle theft cases by 19.5 percent. However, there was a decline in heinous crimes such as murder, attempt to murder, robbery, rioting and rape by 2.97 percent as compared to last year,” he said.

A total of 47,072 cases under the IPC were registered in 2009 against 46,614 in 2008. A total of 11,892 motor vehicle thefts were registered last year as compared to 9,949 cases in 2008.

The commissioner said as compared to five cases under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in 2008, 25 people were booked under it last year.

Even though Delhi witnessed a drop in the total number of accidents in 2009 as compared to 2008, cases of fatal accidents and drunken driving increased during the same period.

As compared to 8,108 accidents in 2008, 6,752 accidents were reported last year, marking a decrease of 17 percent. However, the number of fatal accidents increased from 1,927 in 2008 to 2,165 last year. Cases of drunken driving, dangerous driving and rash over-speeding also went up in 2009.

Dadwal said there was an increase in crime against senior citizens in 2009. Thirty-one cases of crimes against senior citizens were reported in 2009 compared to 25 in 2008. Of the 31 cases, 23 had been solved.

The commissioner said a disturbing fact was that over 90 percent of the accused in heinous crimes were first time criminals.

“It is really a disturbing trend for us that a lot first timers are involved in murder, kidnapping and other crimes. There are no organised gangs working in Delhi but faceless characters are involved in majority of crimes,” Dadwal pointed out.

Out of 841 accused arrested in murder cases, 94 percent were were first-time criminals and they comprised 92 percent of the 657 people arrested for attempt to murder. A total of 1,351 criminals were arrested for snatching, of which over 90 percent were first-time offenders, he said.

Though kidnappings and snatchings increased last year, Dadwal said there was decline in the incidence of molestations, snatching, causing hurt and burglaries.

He said that the anti-obscenity cell launched was also a hit.

“It has been really effective in checking complaints from women being harassed by lewd, objectionable and obscene phone calls, besides SMSes and MMSes. There is no need for the victim to come to a police station and complaints can be registered over the phone, email or SMS,” he said.

On the Commonwealth Games, he said the Delhi Police was fully prepared and foolproof security will be provided during the mega sporting event.

“It’s a huge responsibility for us but we are fully prepared for the games and all plans have been made. We have made security related presentations before the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee and other officials and all of them have expressed satisfaction,” Dadwal said.