Annual Report: Lesser Crimes, More Deaths in 2010
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (PS)
Mangalore, Dec 29: The number of crimes in the city has decreased considerably ever since the police commissionerate was sent up in January this year, said city police commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh at a press meet here on Wednesday December 29.
Disclosing the crime statistics and death rates for the year 2010, he said that there were 19 murder cases reported this year, a drastic fall from the 32 cases in 2009, and an increase from the 11 murder cases in 2008. The number of dacoities, it increased by one, from three in 2009 to four in 2010.
Accidents this year were much lesser, standing at 814 as against 1064 in 2008 and 1038 in 2009. Seemanth Kumar cited reasons like strict implementation of traffic rules and imposition of fines on violators for the decrease.
However, though accidents were less, the number of accident deaths climbed from 130 in 2009 to 154 in 2010, with Mulky, Suratkal and Moodbidri recording an increase, and 32 deaths reported in the city. There were 89 riots in 2010 as against 105 in 2009 and 168 in 2008. As many as 199 theft cases were reported this year, which was a decrease from the 212 in 2009 and an increase from 158 in 2008. Robberies stood at 23 this year, bettering last year's 28 and 35 as in 2008.
The commissoner also spoke about the security arrangements ahead of the taluk and zilla panchayat polls on Friday December 31, stating that out of the 299 polling booths, 28 have been recognised as hyper-sensitive and 78 as partially sensitive.
Also, 25 mobile squads and 300 policemen will be deployed to ensure peaceful elections, apart from three DCPs and two ACPs who will keep an eye on the situation. Moreover, about 2000 policemen will keep guard on the day of the Hindu Samajotsava on January 2, for which talks have been held with community leaders to ensure that no untoward incidents take place, he informed.
He further warned against drunken driving especially on New Year's eve and said that violators will be stringently punished.