FAISALABAD, Jan 7: Incidents of heinous crimes like murder, abduction, dacoity, highway robbery and vehicle snatching have shown an upward trend in Jhang and Toba Tek Singh districts during the year 2003 as compared to the previous year.

In Jhang district, a total of 8,281 cases were registered during 2003 as compared to 7,124 of the previous year, showing an increase of 16 per cent in the crime rate.

Around 100 per cent increase has been noticed in the incidents of assault on women as 167 such cases were registered during 2003 as against 85 of the year 2002.

At least 169 murder cases had been registered in 2003 as against 202 cases of the previous year. An increase was also witnessed in the cases of attempted murder as 176 cases were registered in 2003 as compared to 136 in 2002.

The abduction cases also reflected 35 per cent increase as 339 cases were registered during 2003 as against 247 of the previous year. However, there was a decline in rape cases in 2003 as some 79 such cases were registered as compared to 94 of the previous year.

Cases of dacoity has gone up by 50 per cent as 87 cases of dacoity and highway robbery were registered during 2003 as against 56 of year 2002. The vehicle snatching incidents and other valuables also registered a 50 per cent increase as 152 cases were lodged with the police in 2003 as compared to 103 of the previous year.

About 34 per cent increase was also recorded in incidents of theft, burglary and lifting of vehicles as 779 cases were registered during 2003 as against 586 of the year 2002.

A marked increase in the arrest of proclaimed offenders and hardened criminals had been observed as police arrested 1,728 POs in 2003 as against 1,127 of the year 2002. The police recovered 1,443 illicit weapons, including Kalashnikovs and rifles, during 2003 as against 1,576 weapons in 2002.

A number of reports also appeared in the press throughout the year for non-registration of cases by the police, absence of senior police officers from duty and non-implementation of the Police Orders 2002.

The Toba Tek Singh district has also shown an increase in all heads of crimes, indicating poor performance of the police during the year 2003. The incidents of murder, attempted murder, robbery, dacoity, abduction, rape and other heinous crimes were on the rise throughout year as compared with the figures of previous year.

A total of 4,009 cases were registered in the district during 2003 as against 3,711 of the year 2002, showing an increase of seven per cent. Around 87 murder cases had been registered in 2003 as against 83 cases of the previous year. Similarly, 97 cases of attempted murder were registered in 2003 as against 91 of the year 2002.

The incidents of abduction also witnessed 37 per cent increase as 86 such cases were registered during the year 2003 as compared to 64 of the previous year.

About 80 per cent rise in rape cases was recorded as 33 cases, including five gang-rapes, were registered in 2003 as against 18 of the previous year. Likewise, the assault on women also showed 200 per cent increase as 44 such cases were registered during 2003 as against only 14 of the year 2002.

As many as 144 cases were registered of such heinous crimes during 2003 as against 72 of the year 2002, reflecting a 100 per cent increase. The crime ratio of thefts and burglaries and vehicles lifting also recorded 14 percent increase as 231 cases were registered in 2003 as compared to only 95 of the year 2002.

The poor performance of the district police can also be judged from the fact that it had rounded up 246 proclaimed offenders and hardened criminals during 2003 as against 380 of the year 2002.

The recovery of illicit arms also witnessed a substantial decrease as police could recover 867 illegal weapons during 2003 as against 1,038 of the previous year.

The Toba Tek Singh district has also shown an upward trend in the resistance of public against police and other government agencies as 41 cases were registered in 2003 as against only 15 of the previous year.