RAWALPINDI: Crimes in Rawalpindi, as in other parts of the country, are very difficult to calculate. Figures released by police are sometimes misleading showing generally lower than the actual crimes. In most of the cases, the victims avoid approaching the police believing their complaints will not be heard.

However, the police figures from January 1 to November 15, available with Dawn, are the only source to look at the crime situation in the garrison city and what the district police have been doing to maintain peace.

According to the figures, there was a considerable increase in the kidnappings of women, rape, gang rape and child molestation cases compared to the corresponding period last year. As many as 367 women were kidnapped, 47 raped, eight gang raped and 73 children molested compared to the 349 kidnapping of women, 34 rape, three gang rape and 43 child molestation cases reported last year.

There was also an increase in the kidnappings of men as 115 such cases were reported to the police compared to 88 in the corresponding period last year. However, kidnapping for ransom cases dropped to six from nine last year.

Police figures show robbery cases decreased to 416 between Jan 1 and Nov 15 compared to 607 same time last year

The police figures also showed a fall in the number of murders from 224 last year to 205 so far in 2016. Besides the 205 murders, 12 people were killed during robberies compared to 14 last year.

Attempted murder cases also dropped to 276 compared to 296 reported in the corresponding period last year. But cases under the category of “hurt” (violence against persons with injury offences) increased from 576 to 610 this year.

Though robbery cases dropped from 607 to 416, bank heists increased to five from two reported last year. But the number of robberies may be much higher as many of the victims do not report such incidents to the police.

Motorcycle snatching incidents also dropped to 53 from 84 while snatching of other vehicles decreased to eight from 11 last year.

Theft of cars slightly dropped from 492 to 482 and motorbikes from 774 to 450. But there was a considerable increase in the theft of pickups and tractors from 96 last year to 130 so far in 2016.

The figures also showed a fall in burglary cases from 474 in 2015 to 387 in 2016 and theft from 536 to 435.

As far as the police performance regarding the recovery of stolen goods is concerned, it could only resolve 63 cases in the current year. But how much out of the total looted items was recovered by the police could not be known.

Cases related to the possession of illegal arms also dropped to 1,060 in compared to 1,285 of last year. Similarly, there was a drop in the police crackdown on drug peddlers from 2,262 last year to 2,036 this year.

The total number of cases reported to the district police increased to 15,692 from 15,453. The decrease in the crime rate was attributed to the improved crime recording and better police working.

However, the worsening traffic situation is still a headache for the police as 145 people were killed and more than 350 injured in 297 traffic accidents so far this year. Though the regional police officer had taken notice of the worsening traffic situation, the issue is yet to be resolved.

City Police Officer (CPO) Israr Ahmed Khan Abbasi attributed the decrease in robbery, theft and vehicle snatching crime to effective police patrolling and arrest of gangs of criminals involved in street crimes. However, he did not give the reason behind the considerable increase in violent crime such as violence against persons, kidnapping of women, rape and gang rape cases.

“The cases registered by the police under the National Action Plan are not included in the total number of cases registered by the district police during the current year,” he added.

Published in Dawn November 19th, 2016