Crime graph in the Capital saw a steep hike with a staggering 20,000 more criminal cases being registered in 2013 vis-à-vis the previous year.
Almost 40 per cent hike in the crime rate was due to crimes against women, including rapes and molestation. These offences rose by an alarming 129 per cent and 412 per cent respectively.
According to annual data of the Delhi Police, total number of cases registered rose from 51,479 in 2012 to 73,958 cases in 2013, marking an increase of 43.67 per cent. About 1559 cases of rape were registered in 2013 as against 680 in 2012, a hike of 129.26 per cent. As many as 3,347 cases of molestation were also reported in the past year as against 653 in 2013, a rise of 412.56 per cent.
The number of street crimes also registered a sharp climb with incidents of chain snatching going up by 142.09 per cent. In 2013, 3,319 cases of snatching were registered in Delhi as against 1,371 in 2012.
But, Delhi Police Commissioner Bhim Sain Bassi attributed the rise in the crime statistics to the Delhi Police’s policy of registration of all cases against women.
“The numbers do not matter to me so much. Crime statistics are just statistics, if we manipulate them, it will be injustice to the victims of crime. Our intention here is clear. Registration is as per the crime on the street. This is probably why you are seeing phenomenal increases in some heads,” Mr. Bassi said.
