Cyberabad crimes up 6.65% in 2020

Hyderabad: Several police initiatives and good performance by cops notwithstanding, the overall crime rate edged up by 6.65 per cent under Cyberabad Police Commissionerate limits in 2020 as compared to last year.

The number of cases registered under IPC (Indian Penal Code) and SLL (Special Local Law) during 2020 stood at 24,868 as against 23,320 cases in 2019. Cybercrime cases have increased by 135 per cent while economic offences rose by 42 per cent. Crime against women has come down by 18.66 per cent during this year with a total of 2,302 cases registered as against 2,830 cases registered in the previous year.

Cyberabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar on Tuesday presented the report card of the police department and spoke at length about the multiple works enforced by the department. "There was a slight increase in culpable homicide and cheating cases and the increasing crime reporting also indicates transparency in police functioning, growing confidence among the public on police investigation and people friendly approach of police. There has been a drastic decrease in robberies, house burglaries, thefts, murders, kidnappings and fatal road accidents due to visible and proactive policing done," the Commissioner said.

No pause in cybercrimes

The rise in the number of cybercrime cases in 2020 under the Cyberabad police commissionerate, it shows they have their task cut out. It is stated that the cybercrimes increased by 135% in 2020 as compared to 2019, which has become a serious concern to the law enforcement officials. Sajjanar said, "We have discussed the rising issues in cybercrime with the DGP and Home Minister and have planned to set up an entirely new unit which will comprise only experts in advanced technologies and for this reason we are training the newly recruited 1000 police constables and they will be deployed entirely for the purpose of containing cybercrimes."

Drunk drivers likened to terrorists

Sajjanar said that the Cyberabad police are acting tough against the persons who are indulging in drunk and drive. He noted, "The persons driving under the influence of alcohol are no less than terrorists because terrorists and drunk drivers are equal as they can kill anyone whosoever appears in front of them and with the rise of drunk and drive cases we have started booking the persons under section 304 (2) of IPC, which amounts to culpable homicide not amounting to murder."

"So far the offenders of drunk and drive were taking the cancellation of their licenses and registration certificates of their vehicles in an easy manner, but as soon as we started booking them under the section of IPC there has been a tremendous change in society," he observed. He further stated, "However such implementation has begun just a month ago and there are still a huge number of violators who are indulged in drinking and driving and because of them innocent and gullible people are losing their lives and we will not tolerate such a crime."

List of convictions in 2020

♦ Death sentence in 1 case

♦ Life imprisonment in 5 cases

♦ 10 years conviction in 2 cases

♦ Other convictions 65

CRIME INCIDENCE AT A GLANCE