FAISALABAD, Jan 29: The government is spending Rs2.2 million a day on the district police for people’s protection, but the money is going down the drain because the number of street crimes is rising sharply across the district with the every passing day. Police indifference and lethargy are two of the key factors encouraging the criminals to play without any fear from the law enforcers. The government has been increasing budget for the district police every year, but police are unable to check crime. The budget for Faisalabad police was increased from Rs373.8 million in 2002-03 to Rs835.5 million in 2006-07, but there is no relief for the crime-stricken people.

If police are wasting millions every day, robbers are making millions from people.

Five robbers barged in the house of the cloth market secretary general and looted cash, gold ornaments and other valuables worth Rs5 million. The house is just a few metres from Gulberg Police Station. Though police registered a case, there is no clue to the criminals so far.

The district has 34 police stations and nearly 24 highway patrol posts to provide security to its seven million people, but the police always use its jugglery of statistics to convince the chief minister, instead of acting against the criminals.

Police statistics, though not based on ground realities, show that 26,924 cases were registered against criminals in 2008, compared to 26,389 in 2007. Of these, 465 were murder cases, 522 attempted murder cases, 13 kidnap for ransom cases, 543 abduction cases, 180 rape cases and 14 gang rape cases. Only 165 cases of dacoity and 1,376 of robberies could get police’s attention. However, the number of crime incidents being reported in the media is far higher than those registered by the police.

Criminals riding motorcycles are operating in different parts of the district with impunity, mocking the “effective police system”. Most of these criminals are young, armed with pistols and have motorcycles with fake number plates. They take to the streets from 4pm to 1am.

People say they cannot walk along roads, in markets and even in their own streets. Sheikh Mudassar Islam, who was robbed just few feet from his house in Awami Colony, said he informed the police immediately after the incident, but police did not turn up even two hours after the incident. “I have become a rolling stone between my house and the police station, but police have not registered the case so far.”

Most police officials don’t like to visit crime scenes, especially when there are incidents like cell phone, cash, motorcycle and car snatching.

Police killed at least 18 ‘criminals’ in six ‘encounters’ in two months. These encounters are said to be aimed at making the district crime free zone, but the outcome of these encounters has yet to be seen.

Posts of town police officers, supervisory police officers and investigation in-charges were created here when the district was declared city district to improve the police performance, but there is no improvement in the law and order situation. Imran Ali, who was deprived of his cash, cell phone and other belongings in Iqbal Town a couple of days ago, said he went to Ghulam Mohammadabad Police Station for registration of a case, but to add to his suffering, the police demanded bribe.

If a crime victim goes to the police for registration of a case with a reference, he is asked to nominate the criminal, which is not possible for people in most cases.

Police blame the rise in crime on unemployment, overpopulation, illiteracy and inadequate police force. They say loadshedding has created security problems at night time.