Punjab sees uptick in crimes

Around 2,673 people killed, 13,337 kidnapped from January to July

LAHORE:

Punjab has witnessed an unprecedented rise in different crimes including killing and kidnapping over the first seven months of 2022.

According to the latest data, obtained by The Express Tribune, 432,821 crime cases were registered between January 1 and July 31, 2022, across the province including in the Rawalpindi division.

According to the data, a total of 2,673 people were killed from January to July. The victims also included women and children. Around 4,632 persons were injured in attempted murder incidents. A total of 9,487 individuals sustained injuries in different fighting and other incidents.

According to the data issued by the Punjab police, a total of 13,337 kidnapping incidents were reported, however, 6,713 cases were disposed of in an investigation. Punjab also witnessed a spike in the number of kidnappings for ransom. In the seven months, 39 cases of kidnapping for ransom were reported across the province.

A total of 2,302 women were raped with around 10 women being raped daily in the last seven months. A total of 159 gang rape cases were reported and police claimed to have disposed of 29 gang rape cases after an investigation, 85 challans were presented in courts while 43 cases were still under investigation.

In the last seven months, an upsurge in robbery incidents was also witnessed. A total of 587 armed robberies were reported across Punjab. A total of 27,794 robberies were reported over seven months. A total of 11,600 burglaries were committed in houses and business centres and of these, police failed to trace suspects in 1,578 cases. A total of 1,519 theft cases were reported. A total of 43,053 automobiles and motorcycles worth billions of rupees were stolen as a result of a surge in incidents involving cars, motorcycles, and other types of vehicles.

The crime statistics show that street crime incidents have significantly increased throughout Punjab. Valuable vehicles and motorcycles were snatched from citizens at gunpoint in 5,785 incidents. A total of 7,0438 livestock theft cases were reported.

According to the police, efforts were being made to expedite the investigation so that the maximum number of accused could be convicted. The incidence of crime can be decreased by accelerating the punishment procedure. He claimed that although there is an annual rise in crime incidents, measures are being taken to enhance police performance.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2022.