Hindustan Times ST (Mumbai) - HT Navi Mumbai Live
Crimes rose by 2% last year: Cops
But serious crimes such as attempt to murder, rape and molestation have increased from the 2014 figures
CBD BELAPUR: Navi Mumbai has one of the highest conviction rates in the state, there has been just a 2% rise in crime last year, while detection is at its highest ever- so said the Navi Mumbai police in their annual crime report for the year 2015.
Scrutinise the statistics, however, and the picture does not look so rosy. While crimes like chain snatching, thefts and vehicle thefts have declined, serious crimes such as attempt to murder, rape and molestation increased sharply last year. The police claim there were more complaints in these categories because of greater awareness among women.
Navi Mumbai police commissionerate on Thursday released figures which show that 5,405 criminal cases were registered in the city as against 5,288 in 2014. The detection rate has remained the same at 67%. Last year 3,561 cases were detected; the figure for this year is 3,620 cases.
Chain-snatching, which seemed to be getting out of hand, has been curtailed drastically. 196 chain snatching incidents have been registered in 2015 as against 297 in the previous year.
Motor vehicle thefts declined594 vehicles were reported stolen as against 654 vehicles in 2014. In 2015, 114 four-wheelers were reported stolen as against 176 in the previous year. Theft of heavy vehicles, too, declined from 87 to 69. In the case of two-wheelers the figure for theft stood at 411 as against 391, showing a slight increase.
Overall, robberies in houses have increased from 549 in 2014 to 609 in 2015, and daylight house break-ins have increased slightly to 193 from 186 in 2014. There is an increase in night break-ins, with 416 cases being reported as against 363 in 2014.
While murder cases have dropped from 51 to 48, attempt to murder cases have increased from 23 in 2014 to 27 in 2015. Culpable homicide not amounting to murder has remained constant at 2. Rape cases have increased from 90 in 2014 to 104 in 2015.
Dacoity cases have remained constant, with 17 cases being reported in either year; attempt at dacoity cases have reduced from 13 to 6.
The detection rate in case of murders in 2014, that is, 96% (for 49 cases) has remained at 96% (for 46 cases) in 2015. All attempted murder cases (27) were solved last year, which is similar to the figure (for 23 cases) in 2014. All but 1 rape case out of 104 cases have been solved in 2015.
The detection rate for dacoity (17 cases) and preparation for dacoity (6 cases) also stood at 100% last year.
The police have managed to reduce chain snatching incidents; but the detection rate for such cases has also gone down to 57% (for 112 cases) as against 60% (for 177 cases) in 2014.
As for accidents, 367 deaths were reported as caused by rash and negligent driving, as against 364 deaths in 2014. 604 accidents were reported in 2015, as against 516 in 2014.
It was the opinion of Navi Mumbai police commissioner Prabhat Ranjan that the law and order situation in the city is under control and the 2% rise in crime is natural. He said his force faces three main challenges in the year ahead, namely, house breaking thefts (HBT), crimes against women, and rising cases of accidents.
Speaking at the annual press conference held at the police commissionerate office in CBD Belapur on Thursday, Ranjan said, “The total cases registered in the year 2015 have increased by 177 as compared to 2014, which is a 2% rise. This is a natural and healthy increase in view of the rise in population in the city and several other factors.” Ranjan said, “In fact, if the crime rate had reduced, it would mean that the cases are not being registered at the police stations.”