Alongwith economy, crime in Dimapur drops

Dimapur, the most populous district  in Nagaland, witnesses around 90 percent drop in crime rate. (Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay)

Extortion crippled temporarily 

Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 3

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been unprecedented. Life as we knew it, barely 2-3 months back, overturned and alongwith it, taking the economy to a downward spiral. Economy taking a hit and negative growth has been the trending terms, contrasted by a growing COVID-19 incidence. 

There has been reassuring news too, such as, wildlife reclaiming its place, a lesser carbon footprint, the air clearing up, a healing ozone layer and so on. 

Further, crime has taken a hit with countries reporting lesser incidence of crime. In India, reports about crime rate taking a plunge have made the news, while the police take a breather from the traditional crime-fighting role and becoming more an anti-virus force. 

With less number of vehicles taking the roads, accidents and road fatalities have also dropped. 

In Nagaland, as per the daily updates from the state government, no major law and order or incidents of crime has been reported from the any of the districts during the lockdown thus far. 

In Dimapur alone, the most populous district and one that reports the most number of crimes, the police said that the crime rate has dropped by around 90 percent. 

As per data furnished by the Dimapur police, the district reported only 19 cases during the period March 23-April 24, 2020.  For comparison, the district had reported a total of 93 cases during the same period in 2019.

Unsolicited monetary demands on businesses have also taken bad hit. Extortionists trail businesses here like parasitic worms but with shops downing shutters, the former has also shut shop. 

According to the data, only 1 case of extortion was reported during the lockdown, as opposed to 15 extortion cases registered during the same period in 2019. There were 8 reported cases in the 3 week period in March before the state went into lockdown. In February and January, there were 12 and 13 reported cases, respectively. 

Other cases included 7 thefts, 1 burglary, 1 attempt to murder, 1 cheating, 1 Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act offence, 1 liquor offence, 2 under the Drugs & Cosmetics (DC) Act and 1 Foreigners Act offence. 

During the same period in 2019, there was 1 murder, 3 attempt to murder, 1 rape, 6 kidnapping & abduction, 1 dacoity, 4 robberies, 4 burglaries, 21 thefts, 5 cheating cases, 2 forgeries, 1 causing death due to negligence and 1 grievous hurt. 
Under Special & Local Laws, there were 2 NDPS offences, 13 liquor offences, 4 DC offences, 1 Arms offence, 1 POCSO offence and others. 

Not a single case of rash driving was registered by the police during the lockdown. However, it is to be noted that most road mishaps do not make it to official records as the parties involved resolve out of court.