2016 emerges as worst year in Delhi's crime graph

New Delhi is fast emerging as the crime capital of the country, with 2016 being the worst year. Over 2 lakh crimes under IPC sections were registered here last year. Even though heinous crime rates fell, motor vehicle thefts, burglary and other thefts witnessed a steep rise.

According to data accessed by DNA, more than 570 crimes were registered at various police stations in 2016. In all, the year witnessed 2,09,519 IPC cases, out of which, only 55,957 were solved – 26 per cent.

Alok Verma, now the Director of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), was the Commissioner of Police then.

Senior police officers attribute the increase in the registration of cases to the rise in population. They also said that the procedure to register FIRs has been made much easier now.

"After the Supreme Court's (SC) directive to ensure registration of FIRs, there has been a rise in cases. The police's e-FIRs and friendly approach towards civilians have also contributed to this," said BK Gupta, former commissioner of police, Delhi.

Other than heinous crimes, 4,165 cases of molestation, 5,932 kidnappings, 5,827 accidents, 9,571 snatching and 664 abductions were also reported in 2016.