Crime roundup: As the inflation, unemployment, poverty rise so does the crime

Police blame shortage of personnel, funds and political interference.

RAWALPINDI:

Economic crunch, price spiral, rise increase in unemployment and poverty have fuelled the rise in crime rate in the garrison city with over 4,500 cases registered in the last 11 months. But recovery of stolen or looted valuables was dismally low. The police recovered looted or stolen valuables from criminals in only 346 cases during the period under review.

Incidents of murder, robbery, kidnapping for ransom, abduction, vehicle snatching and theft witnessed alarming increase despite enhanced security measures.

The city witnessed alarming increase in murder incidents as 321 people lost their lives in different disputes as compared to 291 last year. There was a slight rise in attempted murder cases as 459 cases were registered during the period under review as compared to 429 in the corresponding period last year.

Number of abduction cases increased to 534 as compared to 426 last year.

As per official data, 2,050 vehicles, including 800 motorcycles were stolen or snatched at gun point in the garrison city during the last 11 months. While the recovery of stolen vehicles remained very low.

Robbers deprived people of millions of rupees and valuables.

The incidents of sexual assaults rose to 45 from 34 last year.

Cases of traffic accidents also increased with 147 people lost their lives in 11 months as compared to 131 last year.

Car thefts also witnessed an increase during the year with 1,250 cars stolen, as compared to 800 in the corresponding period last year.

The police arrested 2,048 people for carrying unlicensed weapons. The figure stood at 1,751 last year.

A total of 3,083 narcotics related cases were registered, showing an increase of 604 compared to last year. The Regional Police Officer Rawalpindi had earlier shuffled several station house officers (SHOs) in response to the rise in crime but that could not make any improvement in the situation.

Police officials attributed the rise in crime rate to shortage of police personnel, inductions in the department in violation of merit and lack of training and latest weapons.

“Until and unless appointments in the police are done on merit, there is no hope for improvement in the situation,” the official added.

But the residents blamed rampant corruption in the department, political interference and links of criminal elements with the police officers. They said that while cases are registered, the police do not follow-up cases.

However, the City Police Officer (CPO) claimed that “all out efforts are being made to control crimes in the city”. He said senior police officers were directed to regularly monitor the crime situation and performance of police officials, adding that strict security arrangements were made particularly at public places.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2011.