RAWALPINDI: Criminal activity has jumped up in Rawalpindi so far this year with an increasing trend in murder, kidnapping of women, rape, child molestation and vehicle theft cases.

According to the police data, 217 people lost their lives in murder incidents, including 14 killed during armed robberies so far this year compared to 218 murders, including 19 killed during robberies, in the corresponding period of 2018.

Police, however, claimed to have busted several criminal gangs and expressed its determination to smash others involved in heinous crimes, especially those involved in child molestation.

According to police, 217 people lost their lives, including 14 during armed robberies, so far this year

But 83 child molestation cases were reported to the police so far this year compared to the 66 such incidents in the same period in 2018.

Besides, 488 cars and 723 motorcycles were stolen by auto-thieves compared to 481 cars and 710 motorcycles last year.

Despite all this, the police were unable to evolve a plan to check vehicle theft in which there has been no letup.

The citizens also lost property worth millions of rupees in armed robbers, burglaries and theft. However, there was a decrease in armed robberies reported so far this year - 495 compared to 555 reported in the same period in last year.

There was also a considerable increase in theft cases as 426 such incidents were reported compared to 386 last year. But burglaries dropped to 315 this year compared to 397 last year.

As many as 392 kidnapping of women, three kidnapping for ransom cases, 69 cases of rape and five cases of gang rape were reported to the police in nine months compared to 350 kidnapping of women, 54 rape and two cases of gang rape in 2018.

The Saddar Division police recorded 101 murders, 145 attempts to murder, 127 kidnapping of women, 31 rape and three gang rape cases during nine months compared to 103 murder cases and 128 attempts to murder, 122 kidnapping of women, 19 rape and two gang rape cases last year.

An alarming surge in child molestation cases was recorded as 57 cases were reported this year compared to 37 cases in 2018. General theft increased to 142 from 109 last year, 47 cases of car theft, 94 motorcycle theft, 20 other vehicle theft and 55 cattle theft were reported this year.

The Potohar Division police recorded more than 6,050 cases including recovery of narcotics and illegal weapons, compared to 4,898 cases during the nine months of the previous year.

Though the number of murders dropped from 69 to 50, killing of people during robberies increased to eight compared to six in 2018.

All the three incidents of kidnapping for ransom took place in the Potohar Division compared to two cases recorded last year. Police claimed to have traced one of the kidnapping for ransom cases, adding efforts were underway to trace the remaining two suspects.

Kidnapping of women also increased from 140 last year to 153 in the current year while there was a slight increase in rape cases. General theft increased to 174, motorcycle theft went up to 328 and other vehicle theft cases increased to 53.

On the other hand, the police claimed that its performance in September remained satisfactory rather enviable as various cases were traced, including kidnapping for ransom. The accused in a private bank robbery worth Rs5.5 million were also traced, it added.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2019