This undated File photo shows a trooper of the Indian Reserve (Nagaland Police) force on sentry duty at Dimapur Railway Station in Dimapur, Nagaland.
Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 29
If statistics is any indication, crime graph in Dimapur town is rather showing a decreasing trend defying popular notion. Data (registered cases) collected from four major police stations of the town indicate that there has been a downward spiral in criminal offences, over the past four years, recorded by the police.
A total of 564 cases (as on December 28, 2012) were registered this year in the four busiest police hubs - East, West, Diphupar and Sub-urban stations - of the district. In comparison, 577 cases were registered in the four police hubs during 2011. Further looking back, it was 693 in 2010 and 636 in 2009 with East police station registering the highest number of cases in each of the four years.
Arguably the busiest police station in Nagaland, the number of cases registered in East police station went below the 300-mark in 2012 to 280 (as on December 28) as compared to 328, 377 and 313 in 2009, 2010 and 2011 respectively.
One thing worth noting is that cases of abduction for ransom drastically came down this year compared to the preceding three years. From a peak of 36 cases in 2010, 13 abduction related cases were registered as on December 28, 2012. It was 24 (one was kidnap and murder) in 2011 and 31 in 2009. Reason behind the decline is however open to argument.
There were and have been instances when cases were not reported to the police by families apprehensive of abductors scaling up ransom, and worse, killing off the hostage/victim. Mystery surrounded one case in particular this year when the proprietor of a well to do garments store disappeared while reportedly out on a morning walk. The person returned home safely, only, in the evening. Police received no complaint with regard to the mysterious disappearance and return of the person in concern.
Superintendent of Police, Dimapur, VZ Angami acknowledged the marked decline in kidnappings. Queried if it is effective policing or cases going unreported, the district police chief replied that it might be a case of both. He however pointed out that the district police have put in place certain strategies over the past few years to specifically counter abduction for ransom.
The effective use of the National Security Act, 1980 might also be acting as deterrent, stated SDPO, Niuland, Khalo. Persons or suspects booked under the special legislation cannot be bailed and at the same time, it further empowers law enforcement to detain a suspect without trial for upto a year.
While the data from the four police stations showed a marked decline in abductions, there was no let up in cases of murder. This year, 23 cases of murder were registered, not helped by the frequent incidences of factional killings during the year.
In 2011, 12 cases were registered. It was 23 in 2010 and 12 in 2009. Nine cases of attempt to murder were also recorded this year.
With regard to sexual offences, 7 cases of rape were reported and registered this year. In 2011, 2010 and 2009, the number of cases registered was 8, 6 (along with one case of molestation) and 7 respectively.
The year also witnessed a decline in cases of vehicle theft. One policeman commented that compared to 2010 and 2011, reports of car theft was quite low during the year. According to the cop’s observation, the network of car-thieving gangs have somewhat remained unchanged over the years with the same circle of gangs still active.
