ISLAMABAD: While citizens are already hit hard by rising inflation, criminals have been on the loose in the capital and according to the police record over 9,000 residents were robbed of their savings and valuables in the current year in the city.

The number of criminal activities relating to robbery, burglary and theft reached 9065 in the nine months of the current year.

According to crime statistics collected from the central police office, out of the total criminal activities 3855 were committed between May 22 and September 30, including 720 in September alone.

Besides, a man was illegally arrested and detained at the Industrial Area police station and asked to pay Rs60 million for his release. He was later set free by a bailiff of Islamabad High Court (IHC).

City sees rise in criminal activities related to robbery, burglary and theft, police data reveals

The SHO of the area was suspended while his five supervisory officers, whose alleged negligence, unprofessional attitude or connivance with the SHO had resulted in the illegal action, remained untouched, said a police officer, adding the IHC had also ordered registration of a case over the incident but the case was yet to be registered.

Likewise, the Karachi Company police were also allegedly found involved in taking bribe and torturing a man in police custody, the officer said, adding over the issue a complaint was lodged with the SSP operations, but so far a case has not been registered.

There were 14 robberies in Rural Zone followed by eight in Saddar Zone and six each in Industrial Area and City zones.

There were 562 robberies each in Industrial Area and Rural zones, followed by 487 in Saddar and 140 in City zones. After May 21, 255, 216, 215 and 69 robberies were committed in Saddar, Rural, Industrial Area and City zones, respectively.

There were 415 incidents of snatching in Rural Zone, followed by 368 in Industrial Area, 267 in Saddar and 93 in City zones, the data showed, adding 158, 135, 127 and 65 such criminal activities were reported from

Rural, Saddar, Industrial Area and City zones after May 21.

There were 391 burglaries in Rural Zone followed by 310, 158 and 101 in Saddar, City and Industrial Area zones. Out of the total, 140, 56 and 45 took place in

Rural, Saddar, City and Industrial Area zones after May 21.

During the current year, 549, 515, 495 and 464 theft cases were reported from Saddar, Rural, Industrial Area and City zones. Out of the total, 220, 172, 157 and 133 incidents took place in Saddar, City, Rural and Industrial Area zones.

Thieves also stole 177, 121, 118 and 91 vehicles from Saddar, City, Rural and Industrial Area zones this year. Out of the total, 83, 56, 55 and 33 vehicles were

lifted from Saddar, Rural, City and Industrial Area zones.

There were 841, 743, 601 and 452 incidents of motorcycle theft in Saddar, Rural, City and Industrial Area zones, respectively, and 469, 315, 299 and 213 of the bikes were lifted from Saddar, City, Rural and Industrial Area zones.

In September, there were four dacoities, 136 robberies, 106 snatching, 80 burglaries, 124 thefts, 43 vehicle thefts and 227 motorcycle thefts .

Besides, there were also 1421 criminal activities such as 143 murders, 231 murder attempts, four kidnapping for ransom and 736 kidnapping/rape. Out of the total, 78, 95, 168, four and 336 incidents of murders, murder attempts, hurt, kidnapping for ransom and kidnapping/rape occurred after May 21.

There were 17, 18, 27, one and 61 incidents of murder, murder attempt, hurt, kidnapping for ransom and kidnapping/rape in September.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2022