The assembly elections in Delhi are a little less than a month away. But that hasn't stopped Delhi Police from spicing up the time leading up to the event. It has just released a detailed record of crimes. The hard figures from 2015 to 2014 show a favourable trend, with declining rape, murder, and robbery cases. There's no stopping for burglaries and traffic fatalities, though. Does this data really falsify Arvind Kejrival's assertion of Delhi as the top city for criminals?
What the Latest Figures Say About Delhi's Crime Rate?
Delhi has traditionally been the city with the highest rates of offences. But the crime data from 2015 to 2024 does not make this statement true, at least on the surface. There is a slight decrease in serious crimes, like murder, robbery, and rape, between 2023 and 2024, as well as from 2015 to 2024. The figures for eve-teasing, molestation of women, and children's abduction were significant in 2015. They have steadily lowered over the years.
Riots were maximum in 2020, the most significant being the North-east Delhi riots, but cooled off and reduced to 33 in 2024. However, burglary, crimes under the Excise Act, N.D.P.S Act, and Gambling Act were less in 2015 but increased uncontrollably over the years and peaked in 2024.
So, it's certain that security has improved. The national capital has become much safer than in 2015, but it is marginally safer than in 2023.
Criminals Arrested in 2024
The Delhi Police arrested 114 criminals, from parole jumpers to wanted offenders, in 2024. Starting in January 2024, it used a multifaceted approach that blended advanced tech with conventional intelligence to crack down on criminals who evaded arrests for over 10 years.
One of the most commendable arrests was the murder mystery crackdown in which AI was used to resurrect the image of a deceased person, namely Hitendra Singh, 35, and catch his killers, Rocky and Annie. For every major arrest, the police analyzed technical data, meticulously deployed informants, and performed field operations in varied areas.
The ‘Operation Kavach' in the latter part of 2024 also played a huge role in combating crimes. The co-ordinated operation cracked down on over a thousand criminals in the Outer Delhi region, Dwarka, northeast Delhi, Narela, and Kanjhawala. Lastly, the greater strength of the police force can also be attributed to the strictness today. Between 2014 and 2022, 44 additional police stations were set up. However, the data on expenditures done on them is still not available.
Who Are Most Likely to Commit Crimes in Delhi?
Delhi's juveniles (persons below 18 years) are most associated with serious crimes. Multiple studies have found them in conflict with the law and committing heinous crimes like rape, murder, robbery, and extortion. In 2021, 3,317 minors carried out 125 crimes like murders. In 2022, NCRB said that there were 3129 total juvenile offences in all the union territories. Of them, 2643 were from Delhi. Considering the size of the state, this number was high.
Between January 2022 and May 2024, 259 minors were involved in attempted murder, rape, and robbery. In 2023, at least 10 to 12 juveniles were apprehended in Delhi for murders.
This rising juvenile participation in crimes is attributed to macroeconomic factors
Increased poverty leading to domestic violence is a precursor for minors engaging in crimes. The quick wins they get by petty crimes give instant gratification. Moreover, children imitate what they see in their homes. When all they can see is their father assaulting and abusing their mothers, they consider the behavior natural. Lack of education further augments the prevalence of juvenile delinquency in Delhi. So, although Delhi has become safer, there's a pressing need to reduce crimes by minors. This is especially crucial since juveniles cannot be locked up in jail after committing an offence.
Delhi Is Safer Than Before but Still Has a Long Way to Go
The latest crime data gives an optimistic picture of Delhi. However, it is still not at par with Kolkata, Chennai, Coimbatore, and Surat. In fact, Delhi does not figure anywhere in the list of safest cities in India. Its reputation is still under scrutiny. The marginal improvement in crime rates is yet to make it a place where women can roam alone without worry at night or people are not in constant fear of becoming victims to robbers. More dedicated efforts by local police are the need of the hour to make the capital a peaceful place.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
*The views expressed are personal to the author and do not reflect the platform's opinion of the same.
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Praggya Joshi is a seasoned content writer specializing in creative writing, long-form, and short-form social media content. She has worked in the B2B, SaaS, health, and IT spheres and carries a deep knowledge of building SEO-optimized and user-friendly content strategies. A poet at heart, she finds solace in weaving her thoughts and life experiences into free-flowing verses. Praggya is devoted to honing her craft and tries her best to move past her comfort zone and gain new skills.
