Decline in crime rate: Punjab govt claims quoting NCRB data

Punjab government today claimed the crime rate in the state has been steadily falling since 2007, as compared to the national crime rate.
Citing the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, a Department of Information and Public Relations spokesperson in a press note said in 2007, the crime rate in Punjab was 135.6 per 1000 population, against the national rate of 220.5.
And in 2014, state registered 129.6 crime rate against the national rate of 220.5, he said.
The spokesperson said Punjab has been improving its rank for lowest crime rate in the country as it was ranked 11th in 2007 and improved to 4th in 2014.

The state was ranked 10th in 2008 & 2009, 9th in 2010, 8th in 2011, 6th in 2012 & 2013, and 4th in 2014, he said
He said the state also maintained a downward trend in crime during 2015 and registered 701 murder, 886 rape and 26 dacoity cases in the year against 767, 981 and 32 respective cases during 2014.

Giving an account on drugs, he said in 2007 there were 6,111 cases registered, whereas 10,159 cases were registered in 2015.
He also said special campaign against drugs had been undertaken during the last four years.
In 2015, 12,181 persons were held and "almost all major drug paddlers have been arrested".

He said the police have made huge recovery of drugs and narcotics during 2015, and Punjab police, with the help of BSF, made huge efforts and seized Heroin to the tune of 428.852 Kg.
"Smuggling of other drugs like opium and poppy husk from the neighboring states also was kept under check and hence, their recoveries decreased," he added.
The spokesman further added that by effective prosecution under the NDPS Act, the conviction rate went up.
In 2008 it was 68.3 per cent and went up to 81.4 in 2015.
Quoting the figures regarding action taken against gangsters involved in contract killing, protection money, taking money for possession of Land and other organized gangs, the spokesman said that as on March 31, 2016 Punjab Police had arrested 423 accused members of 57 gangs out of which 310 were either in jails or on bail.