Law and order: Lowest murder rate in Bahawalpur in 7 years

RPO urges officials to maintain momentum, improve service

BAHAWALPUR: “Over the last, Bahawalpur has recorded the lowest incidence of murders in recent history. The marked reduction in the crime rate was made possible by effective policing,” Regional Police Officer Ehsan Sadiq said on Saturday.

Presiding over a meeting to review police performance, Sadiq said, “The crime rate has not been this low in seven years.”

Sadiq said officials should redouble their efforts to curb criminality.

“As many as 122 murders were recorded in the first six months of 2016.

Earlier, 342 murders were recorded in 2015. This is the lowest murder rate in this region in seven years,” the RPO said.

“We should laud the efforts of policemen who have worked diligently to reduce heinous crimes,” he said.

“This momentum should be maintained through sustained and effective community policing,” he said.

The RPO was given a presentation on murders between 2008 and 2016.

The meeting was told that 402 murders were reported in 2008, 423 in 2009, 483 in 2010, 476 in 2011, 479 in 2012, 515 in 2013 and 485 in 2014.

Investigation officers told the meeting of 425 murder cases registered over the last 18 months, challans of 214 cases had been submitted to courts, 57 cases were cancelled and 154 cases were under investigation.

The meeting was told that after the homicide unit was made functional in Bahawalpur, investigating officers had submitted 83 challans to courts while 111 cases were under investigation.

The meeting was told that 24 cases had been cancelled.

The RPO urged investigation officers to utilise the services of Punjab Forensic Science Agency to streamline the investigation process.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 26^th, 2016.