Peshawar district witnesses reduction in some crimes, spike in others

Child kidnapping, assault on police cases on the rise

PESHAWAR: There has been a considerable decline in murder and attempted murder cases reported during the first six months of 2015 in Peshawar district, an official of the City police told The Express Tribune.

“In the first six months of 2014, 314 murders cases were reported,” he said. “However, at least 216 people have been killed while 286 have been injured in cases of attempted murder over the past six months.”

According to the official, there has been a reduction in kidnapping cases but not in cases involving children.

“Four cases involving the kidnapping of children have been reported between January and June,” he said. However, “During the same period last year, three children were abducted in the city,” he said. “This year, four children were abducted.”

The official noted kidnapping for ransom cases have declined from 29 to nine cases in 2015. Only 32 cases of abduction triggered by disputes were registered as compared to 53 cases last year.

There were 34 cases registered by families of women who were believed to have been “kidnapped for marriage” said the City official.

The official said 74 cases of assault against the police had been reported between January and June as compared to 44 which were registered in 2014 during the first two quarters. “The figures are quite alarming,” he added.

During the first six months of the year, 66 cases of car lifting and nine cases of car snatching were registered.

“Last year, 115 cases of car lifting had been registered in the first six months,” the official said. “However, the same number of cars was snatched between January and June 2014.”

“Ever since the counter-terrorism department has taken responsibility of dealing with terrorism cases, police can now focus on tackling other crimes,” the official said. “However, we are still overburdened and have to see to other routine responsibilities and duties.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2015.