The state has witnessed a ten per cent increase in the crime rate in the year 2009, stated the Director General of Police, Mr Bhimsen Bassi on Friday.
Mr Bassi said the crime detection rate in the state is also on the rise, however, he said, there is a fall in the conviction rate, which he attributed to the lack of evidence, whether direct or circumstantial, and also to the shortcomings in performance of some police officers.
Presenting the annual review report to media, Mr Bassi, along with the IGP Mr K D Singh and DIG Mr Ravindra Yadav, said a total of 3,005 IPC cases under various crime heads were reported in 2009 as against 2,742 cases reported during 2008. A total of 1,861 cases have been detected so far, he informed.
In reply to a question that despite all efforts by the police, why there is a decline in the conviction of criminals, Mr Bassi pointed out that policing involved onerous responsibility and added that their task became all the more challenging as the available manpower of the state’s police force was inadequate. He, however, said despite these constraints, the police force has been able to maintain peace and order in the state, and promised to deliver the best to sustain the same.
Mr Bassi informed that the number of heinous crimes like murder, attempt to murder, dacoity, robbery and rape amounted to 158 in 2009 out of which 137 cases have been detected. In the year 2008, such crimes amounted to 129 of which 94 cases were detected. Thus, although there has been a rise in heinous offences, there is an improvement in their detection rate by 13.84 per cent, he said.
A total of 53 murder cases were reported in 2009 of which 46 were detected, while out of the 49 cases reported in 2008, only 33 were detected thus increasing the detection rate by 19.45 per cent. As regards to the Calangute case wherein a head constable was suspended after he was found guilty during an enquiry for indulging in oral sex with a call girl while on duty, in a police control room van, Mr Bassi said the case has not been registered as yet and added that strict disciplinary action would be taken against those involved.
[Source]
