Maharashtra CM calls for improving crime conviction rate

Describing Maharashtra as "safe and secured" compared to other states, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today emphasised on the need to increase the conviction rate in the State, where crimes against women saw an increase in 2012, but murder cases dropped slightly.
"Conviction rate is less than average. It needs to be increased and this responsibility lies on all of us," he said.
He was speaking after unveiling "Crime in Maharashtra 2012" report that gave an analysis of crimes last year.
The conviction rate in the state in the first three months this year was 15.8 per cent compared to 8.2 last year and 9.4 in 2011.

Going by the report, Maharashtra is "safe and secured" compared to other states, but people want more effective steps to curb crime, Chavan added.
"Preparing such data is very useful. It would not only help the police understand crimes but also prevent them. It would also make people study the crime scenario in the state."

"Investors study various factors before making any investment in a state. And law and order is one of the most important aspects they study. Police are doing their job well but they need to reduce the crime rate further," he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Home Minister R R Patil said the crime rate might have shot up in 2012 compared to 2011, but at the same it must be noted that population and urbanisation is also expanding.

Natural death of an accused in the police or judicial custody was not treated as custodial death in some of the states, Patil said.
"But in Maharashtra, whether it is a natural or death due to other reasons, it is considered as custodial death. If we also follow other states' policy, the custodial deaths data will come down," he said.
"We should reward those who perform their duty well. But there is a need to take note of those who don't perform," he said.
As per the report, cases of dacoity stood at 793 in 2012, up 2.6 per cent over 2011, robbery-6949 (+63.5%), sexual harassment- 1294 (+20.8%), rape-1839 (+8.1) and molestation- 3935 (+3.7%).

Some crimes registered a drop in 2012: fake currency cases- 291 (-17.1%), theft- 47476 (-11.2%), kidnapping and abduction of women and girls- 1140(-8.9%) and hurt- 28392 (-4.6%) and murder-2712 (-3.8%).