GUJRAT: The ratio of murders as well as other heinous crimes has shown a downward trend in 2014, as 202 people were murdered compared to more than 250 last year.

Around 12 members of two alleged militant groups involved in target killings and terrorism were also traced and arrested this year.

Robberies also decreased to 211 from last year’s 246. Around 100 gangs of robbers were busted besides a record recovery of looted goods made from them: Rs117.8 million were recovered as compared to last year’s Rs85.7 million.

According to data seen by this correspondent of the 22 police stations of Gujrat district, 182 cases of murder were lodged in which 202 people were killed. Last year, this number was 216 in which at least 250 people were murdered, showing a reasonable decrease in a district known for an alarming number of murders.

Nine police encounters were conducted in which at least five alleged outlaws were killed and two injured with no policeman hurt this year as compared to only five encounters in 2013 killing four suspects and injuring one while two policemen were killed and one injured.

In 2014, three fugitives with head money on them were arrested and another with a Rs1 million bounty killed in an alleged police encounter. Two outlaws with a bounty were arrested in 2013.

Two alleged militants, including alleged Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan Gujrat Emir Afzal Fauji and Ahmed Baba, were killed in an alleged police encounter on Dec 19 whereas some suspected members of banned outfits involved in target killings in 2013 were also arrested.

There was an increase in rapes and gang rapes in 2014, as 28 rape cases were lodged this year against last year’s 26. Nine gang rapes were reported this year against last year’s six cases.

Dacoity/murder decreased in 2014 with six incidents against last year’s 11. Motorbikes and car thefts also decreased considerably as 172 bikes were lifted this year against last year’s 240. There were 31 car theft cases reported this year against last year’s 42, while the number of cattle lifting also showed a downward trend with 100 cases in 2014 against last year’s 109.

Cases registered against illegal arms and narcotics increased this year with 1,852 against illegal arms as compared to last year’s 1,482 and 1,422 against narcotics as compared to last year’s 1,310.

Total proclaimed offenders arrested in 2014 were 2,511 against last year’s 2,086 and 995 court absconders against previous figures of 641.

Interestingly, in 2014, police in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies traced and arrested suspects involved in terrorism-related cases that had occurred in 2012 and 2013. No such incident was reported in the district this year.

District Police Officer Rai Ijaz Ahmed claimed old family enmities were the main reason behind murders in Gujrat. However, the numbers were controlled with consistent efforts of police in tracing and arresting suspects besides investigating on merit. Reconciliation moves by local influentials also proved instrumental in reducing the ratio of murders.

He claimed police had traced and arrested all terrorism suspects. Almost all groups involved in militant activities had been nabbed whereas record number of robbers and vehicle thief gangs were smashed during 2014.

He added that the law enforcement agencies in collaboration with civil society organisations could bring the ratio of heinous crimes to their lowest.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2014