Major crimes lowest in seven years: Uttar Pradesh government data

LUCKNOW: Incidence of major crimes reported in Uttar Pradesh fell to a seven-year low during the seven months ending July, according to data released by the state government, while the number of people booked under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) was the highest in four years.

The data comes in the wake of a spate of crimes including rapes of minors and killings in the state over the past few days which have led to opposition parties lashing out at the government.

The police attributed the decrease in major crimes to the fundamental changes brought in by the Yogi Adityanath government such as transparency in postings and stable tenure of officials. But while fewer crimes were reported during the two-month lockdown, imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19, the rate of crimes increased drastically after the easing of restrictions.

Incidence of serious crimes such as murder and rape fell 7.8% and 28% respectively year-on-year to 2032 and 1216. Compared to 2016, the last year of the previous Samajwadi Party government, cases fell 26% and 38.7% respectively under the two heads. Compared to 2013, crimes committed fell 27% and 26% respectively.

For other crimes such as dacoity, loot and kidnapping for ransom, the fall in crime rate has been starker, down 44%, 43% and 35% respectively year-on-year to 38, 792 and 15. Compared to the 2016 figures, the rates fell 74.5%, 65% and 55% respectively while since 2013, incidence of crimes reported under the heads fell 69%, 56% and 69% respectively.

At the same time, the state government booked 112 people under the NSA this year, a jump of 13% since last year and an increase of 37% since 2016.

“There is transparency in posting of officers which happens on merit and there is no political interference in the working of the police,” Prashant Kumar, additional director general of police (law and order), UP, told ET explaining the reason behind the consistent fall over the years. “At the same time, a stable tenure is given to officers along with a free hand which has helped them control law and order situation in a more efficient way.”

On being asked whether the lockdown had a significant role to play in the fall in numbers, Kumar said while fewer crimes were committed during the lockdown, after opening up, many more cases of murder, rape and kidnapping have come to the fore, thus balancing out the fall. However, he said there has been a significant improvement even if the data of 2019 is compared to that of 2016.