Crime rate was on the decline in the eight districts of West Zone during 2012, whereas soaring accident and suicide rate continued to remain a cause for concern.
The West Zone comprises of the Nilgiris, Coimbatore Rural, Tirupur, Erode, Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts barring Coimbatore and Salem City Police.
During 2012, West Zone police had recorded a marginal decline in the number of accidents but the number of lives lost due to accidents had gone up.
Accidents
In 2011, the West Zone police recorded 15,871 accidents and loss of 3,900 people whereas in 2012, the total number of accidents was 15,787 and the number of lives lost was 3,956.
As far as crime was concerned, the West Zone police had maintained their detection and recovery of 70 per cent both in 2011 and 2012.
The number of cases had come down drastically. In 2011, the number of cases reported was 3,999 of which 2,083 were detected and 1,196 were under investigation.
In 2012, the number of cases registered was 3,246 of which 2,250 were detected and 996 were under investigation. Year 2012 saw a decline of 753 cases and Rs. 12.80 crore properties were recovered.
In grave crime, there were a total of 987 cases in 2011 of which 701 were detected and 274 were under investigation.
In 2012, there were a total of 939 (48 cases less) of which 686 were detected and 253 were under investigation. Rs 10.25 crore worth of properties have been recovered.
Suicides
Suicides had been a major cause for concern in the West Zone with almost all the districts witnessing a steep increase. However, Erode and Salem witnessed a decline.
West Zone, especially Tirupur, continues to be the suicide capital of the State. In 2011, there were 2,747 suicides in the West Zone with 1,536 men, 1,016 women, 102 girls and 94 boys.
In 2012, the Zone witnessed a marginal decline of just one case and registering 2,746 cases while Coimbatore Rural, the Nilgiris, Namakkal, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri witnessed an increase. Tirupur, which recorded 600 cases of suicide – highest in the State in 2011 – reported 623 cases in 2012.
As far as murders were concerned, the Zone got a breather this year. In 2011, there were 352 cases of murder of which 332 were detected and in 2012 the numbers of cases of murder was 334 of which 300 had already been detected.
In 2011, the Zone recorded 338 cases of sand smuggling leading to the arrest of 380 and seizure of 1,140 units of sand and 341 vehicles.
In 2012, the spurt in the number of cases was due to vigil, say police. The number of cases in 2012 was 446 and 556 people had been taken into custody. A total of 877.5 units of sand and 472 vehicles had been seized.
Goondas Act
In 2011, 76 persons were detained under Goondas Act whereas in 2012, the number of detentions was 179.
During 2012, police registered 338 cases of land grab leading to the arrest of 479 persons leading to restoration of 532 acres worth Rs. 88.38 crores. Seven accused had been detained under Goondas Act.
