Date:06/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/06/stories/2009010655220300.htm

Other States - Orissa

Crime rate comes down, says CP

Staff Reporter

‘Cases of robbery, burglary, theft, swindling and accidents declined due to effective policing’

Special cells will be set up to concentrate on specific crime
Commissionerate ready to face threat from Left wing extremists

BHUBANESWAR: Commissionerate of Police for Bhubaneswar and Cuttack that completed one year recently claimed that the crime graph had come down in the twin cities due to effective policing.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, Commissioner of Police Bijay Sharma said as many as 6,636 criminal cases were registered during the year 2008 against 7,411 cases in 2007 that showed 15.92 per cent decline in number of crimes.

He said cases of robbery, burglary, theft, swindling and accidents had declined during past one year .

“This improvement could be achieved mainly due to some compounding powers vested with police administration. While 795 accident cases were reported in 2008, it was 850 in the previous year. We have sincerely tried to bring the traffic system to order,” Mr. Sharma said.

He said although number of dacoity jumped by 69 per cent, the ground situation was different.

“Figure on dacoity is just technical in nature. Miscreants were caught during preparation stage. In all 20 dacoity cases that were registered in Cuttack area were detected during preparation,” Mr. Sharma said.

“The performance is satisfactory. Crime is bound to change upward due to urbanisation and increase in population. Effectiveness of policing is known from its ability to detect cases.

We have been able to achieve over 90 per cent success in detection in murder, rape and accident cases, in robbery the detection level was 64 per cent,” he said.

Commissioner of Police said during the next year special cells would be opened to concentrate on specific crimes such as sensational crimes, land disputes and violence on women.

Moreover, to reduce reaction time the Commissionerate would try to put in place a state-of-the-art GPS embedded Dial 100 system at an estimated cost of Rs. 151 crore.

“Our plan is to double the vehicle available now. Other required infrastructure would be placed soon,” he said.

Mr. Sharma said the Commissionerate was aware of threat from Left wing extremists.

“We have already raised two small teams having personnel who have undergone greyhound training. This is our first line of defence. As time progresses, more personnel from special operation group would be diverted to the wing,” he said.