Time to applaud? V.D. Ram

Ranchi, Sept. 4: After the recent killing of an inspector in Khunti, police director-general V.D. Ram announced that crime has fallen but the number of murder cases have increased.

Ram said 1,141 people have been murdered till July 31 this year. The figure was at 1,099 last year. Reasons touted for the increase in the number of murders were personal rivalry and land dispute.

The director-general claimed that the police have successfully checked other crimes in the city, including robbery, loot, burglary, rioting and rape.

Ram said while 337 incidents of robbery were reported till July 31 last year, the number rests at 217 till this July-end.

He also compared other crimes at the newsmeet here today. The number of loot cases reported till July this year were at 441 as compared to last year’s figure of 479. Similarly, the number of burglary cases was at 752, as compared to 898 till July last year.

While 1,581 riots had taken last year, the number was brought down to 1,576 this year.

The DGP also admitted that 32 policemen were killed till August this year while the death toll was only at 9 last year. Ram, however, claimed that the police have succeeded in putting a check on Naxalite activities. “While 316 Naxalite attacks had taken place till August last year, the number is only 287 at present,” he added.

Ram said a lot of work is being done for the modernisation of the police. The state has a modern forensic science laboratory having the capacity to prepare ballistic reports, DNA profiling, fluid examination, cyber analysis and chemical examination.

Police spokesperson and IG (provision and modernisation) S.N. Pradhan said the forensic lab would soon have brain-mapping facilities. He said that the state would soon get a new communication system.