Most murder, kidnap accused are novices: Delhi Police

NEW DELHI - Over 90 percent of those arrested for murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping and snatching in the national capital in 2009 were novices, Delhi Police Commissioner Y.S. Dadwal said Saturday.

A total of 523 murder cases were registered last year against 528 in 2008. Though there was a decline in murder cases in 2009, an analysis of motives in such cases revealed that 15 percent of the cases were due to sudden provocation over trivial issues.

Out of the 841 persons accused arrested in murder cases, 94 percent were novices. A total of 657 people were arrested for attempt to murder, of which 92 percent were novices, Dadwal told reporters here at the annual Delhi Police press conference.

Dadwal said 1,293 cases of snatching were reported last year against 1,320 in 2008. A total of 1,351 criminals were arrested, of which over 90 percent were first-time offenders, he said.

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

The commissioner said 452 cases of rape were registered in 2009 against 462 in 2008.

No case of rape was reported from 35 police stations while the same number of stations accounted for 50 percent of total rape cases. Of the arrested accused 212 were neighbours, 64 were friends, 35 were relatives and 129 were other known people, he said.