PESHAWAR, Jan 1: The crime rate in the Peshawar district recorded an increase in 2002 as compared to last year despite the introduction of police reforms and claims of improving law and order by the police.

The crime reported from Jan 1, 2002 to Dec 26, 2002, remained at 15,501, showing an increase of 2,023 incidents in comparison to the year 2001, during which 13,478 cases were registered.

According to the crime figures available with this correspondent, 356 persons were murdered in 2002, whereas in the year 2001, 374 persons were killed.

The attempted murder cases also increased in comparison with the year 2001. The police registered 429 attempted murders and 684 hurt cases during the year 2002, and in the year 2001 the registered cases were 404 and 731 respectively.

In 2001, only three cases of Zina were registered, but in the year 2002, eight cases of Zina were registered with the NWFP police, showing an increase of five cases of adultery.

During the year 2002, 32 cases of kidnappings for ransom, abductions were registered, and in 2001, 24 cases were reported.

Cases of assault on police and others cases were reported 38 and 42 respectively in the year 2002, while 39 and 37 cases were registered respectively in 2001.

In 2002, 266 cases of robbery, bank robbery, burglary and theft were registered in the Frontier province, whereas in 2002, 238 cases of the same nature were registered.

Cases of car snatching and car lifting were also increased in the year 2002. In 2002, 28 cases of carjacking and 99 cases of carjacking were reported, while 17 and 70 cases of carjacking respectively were reported in 2001.

The incidents of motorbike declined as no case was registered and only 36 cases were reported of motorcycle lifting in 2002.

In 2002, 597 cases of fatal accidents were reported in the NWFP, whereas, 648 accidents occurred during the year 2001.

The cases registered under U/S 279/36/PPC remained 907; Prohibited Ordinance cases 5,925; Arms Ordinance cases 2629; Legal and Special Law 1637 and 1,753 miscellaneous cases were reported in 2002.