In view of the rising deaths in road accidents in Belagavi district, Superintendent of Police B.R. Ravikanthe Gowda has suggested steps to be taken by the departments concerned to prevent such accidents on State and National Highways, besides the Major District Roads. As many as 751 persons were killed in various road accidents in the district in the first half of this calendar year, which was 28 more than the 723 deaths in 2015. In 2014, there were 779 deaths in road accidents.
Speaking on the crime graph in the district from January to June-end for the last three years, Dr. Ravikanthe Gowda said that the crime rate, by and large, was on the decline. The rate of crime detection had improved due to the hard work by the police officials and their staff, he said.
He said that the number heinous crime had come down from 52 in 2015 to 40 this year; only five cases of dacoity were reported in 2015 and 2016 as against 14 in 2014; cases of extortion fell from 22 in 2014 to 16 in 2015 and 11 in 2016; theft cases also declined from 81 in 2014 to 64 in 2015 and 61 in 2016, while 65 cases of vehicle thefts were reported in 2016, as against the 77 in 2015 and 65 in 2014.
As many as 19,180 cases related to violation of traffic rules were registered and a fine of Rs. 41.65 lakh collected this year as against 18,113 cases and a fine of Rs. 41.48 lakh last year. But, there was an increase under various other offences, from 2,269 in 2015 to 2,339 this year, though it was on the higher side in 2014 with 2,472 cases.
There was an increase also in violation of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act from 16 in 2015 to 19 this year. In 2014, it was 21 cases.
He said that due to concerted steps and heightened vigilance by the police, a large number of cases of illegal sand extraction and transportation were registered in the district — 287 — under which 509 persons were arrested and property (sand and vehicles) worth Rs. 16.21 crore seized from January to June-end this year.
Inspector-General of Police, North, K. Ramachandra Rao, returned stolen property such as gold ornaments and silver articles to their owners. The police recovered valuables worth Rs. 1.26 crore, in all, in 56 cases and arrested 152 persons during the first six months of this year.
Mr. Ramachandra Rao said that he would announce suitable rewards to all officials and personnel in recognition of their efficiency in detection of various crimes and recovery of stolen property.
The rate of crime detection has improved due to the hard work by police officials, their staff
