SPEAK UP: Crime in Delhi increases by 6% while heinous offences reduce

Crime in the national Capital has a slight increase of six per cent and at the same time, there is a dip of 11 per cent in cases of heinous crimes. However, does that mean Delhiites are safer than what they were in 2017 going by the statistics? We asked the residents of Delhi if they feel safe in the national Capital. 

While Delhi police claim they have put their best foot forward to ensure that crime in control in the national Capital, the fact that not just woman alone, but each and every section faces some or the other issues in Delhi. Some even complain that getting a case registered itself continues to be painstaking.

According to the stats released by the Delhi police, the total number of criminal cases registered in 2018 stood at 2,36,476, as compared to 2,23,077 in 2017 giving it a 6% hike. Of the total cases reported last year, 477 were murder cases, 2,043 were rape cases, 2,307 were incidents of robbery and 6,642 were cases of snatching.

Speaking to DNA, the residents, while praising the police, claimed that there are specific zones that are still unsafe stretches in their respective areas.

"The cops are doing their duties, they can't be everywhere. However, as a woman, I feel I can't wear my jewellery when I step out of the house. It is not even about the expensive things. Miscreants will come from behind and just snatch your chain or pull your purse and if you oppose they might shoot you or attack you with a knife," said Mamta Dhingra, a resident of Rohini.

While just like Delhi police they also blamed the unemployed youth, migrant population and frustrations of youngsters as the reason for the crime.

"It is the youngster living in mostly clusters who are fascinated to have a rich lifestyle when they see the society and want to earn more money in less time. They tend to fall into bad companies and are taking to street crimes like snatching and robberies," said Vipul Batra, a resident of Malviya Nagar.

Five women were raped and eight were molested every day on an average in the national capital in 2018. According to Delhi Police data, 2,043 cases of rapes were registered last year as compared to 2,059 cases the year before that and 2,065 cases in 2016.

"We can't change the mentality of sick people, there should be more night and early morning patrolling in all areas especially which have cluster areas around them, " said Harshit Nanda, a resident of Trilokpuri.

Residents also claimed that the people on the street have become short-tempered also and road rage incidents happen due to them while police claimed that they can't be on every street to stop the road rage incidents as it is the heat of the moment in which such incidents happen.

VOICES

I think, the crimes are increasing every day in our city. But getting them under control depends on both, citizens and the police. Police issues new corrective methods from time to time. However, they are irrelevant until we, as a responsible citizen, also understand our individual responsibilities and act in a responsible manner
— Harshit Nanda

We always complain about crimes around us, but we also ignore the fact that we, as citizens, often contribute to these crimes in some way or the other. We have to be more aware of our responsibilities in the society  and stay alert about our surroundings in order to prevent these crimes  from taking place in our localities 
— Anurag Kumar

The criminals often get motivation from the loose actions of the police, whenever cops don’t act on time and effectively. The police needs to be more responsible and prompt to control crimes in the city. There is a need for quick response time and better policing to prevent crimes from happening in certain pockets of the city and to put the safety of residents as a top priority    
— Hemlata Goel

I have often noticed that people have a tendency to simply ignoring the crimes occurring around them because it doesn’t concern them. However, this only helps criminals to flourish. As residents of the city, we all will have to consider our roles in fighting crime and will have to come together to fight crimes in the national capital region
— Nawaz Ahmed

In some cases, it is seen that even some of the police officials support the criminals as the network is huge and strong. It further increases corruption and crime rate in the city. The police department needs to be more honest, organised and active in order to prevent criminal activities from flourishing in Delhi and the national capital region
— Manoj Gupta

The police department has become more responsible and has introduced more preventive measures. But it’s the lower levels and execution that lacks the motivation to let the change to come in the true sense. The process should be checked evenly and at all levels to stop all types of crimes  from happening in Delhi and the national capital region
— Pallavi Bansal

HOW SAFE ARE DELHI STREETS?

• Five women were raped and eight were molested every day on an average in the national capital in 2018
   
• According to Delhi Police data, 2,043 cases of rapes were registered last year as compared to 2,059 cases the year before that and 2,065 cases in 2016
   
• Residents also claimed that the people on the street have become short-tempered also and road rage incidents happen due to them
   
• Police claimed that they can’t be on every street to stop the road rage incidents as it is the heat of the moment in which such incidents happen
   
• While Delhi police claim they have put their best foot forward to ensure that crime in control in the national Capital, the fact that not just woman alone, but each and every section faces some or the other issues in Delhi