Outgoing year sees rise in heinous crimes in Rawalpindi

Absence of technology, citizens’ negligence blamed for crime surge

RAWALPINDI:

The outgoing year saw an increase in heinous crimes, including murders, robberies and car and motorcycle thefts, in the garrison city as compared to the previous year.

According to the data obtained from police sources, in 2022, the Rawalpindi Police registered 291 murder cases in which men, women and children were killed. Whereas in 2021, a total of 220 murder cases were registered.

According to police sources, the main reasons behind the murders were long-standing enmity, honour and business disputes. A 27% increase was seen in murder cases in the outgoing year.

According to the crime data, 13 innocent civilians were killed for resisting robbery in Rawalpindi in 2022 as compared to the killing of 16 people in the previous year.

As many as 2,751 robberies were reported in the outgoing year while 2,158 robberies were reported in 2021 in which the accused deprived the citizens of cash, jewellery, and other valuable items.

Police sources said that houses, offices, shops as well as hotels were robbed this year as the rate of incidents of robbery saw a 24% rise as compared to the previous year. According to the crime data, in 2022, 515 incidents of vehicle theft took place in which citizens were deprived of their vehicles as compared to the 482 such incidents reported in 2021.

The ratio of the arrest of the accused and the recovery of the stolen vehicles remained quite disappointing as compared to the incidents of car theft with citizens expressing their dissatisfaction over the performance of the police. The rate of increase in the incidents of car theft remained at 6%.

In the year 2022, motorcycle thieves stole 5,040 motorcycles, depriving the citizens of cheap rides. Whereas in 2021, the motorcycles of 4,107 citizens were snatched or stolen. Hence, a 23% increase was recorded in motorcycle theft incidents.

The police sources said that the reasons for the increase in crime are the lack of modern technology in the police force and the carelessness of citizens.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2022.