Crime against women up by 45 %, says Praja Foundation survey

A 45 per cent jump in rape, molestation and chain-snatching cases in the past year has put paid to Mumbai's image as being a woman-friendly city. Other crimes, too, were seen on the increase, as per a survey conducted by city NGO Praja Foundation covering the period 2012-13 to 2013-14, April to March. 

While the occurrence of rape cases has jumped by 47 percent, molestation and chain-snatching have seen a jump of 52 % and 66 %. Other crimes like theft and rioting, too, went up by 19 % and eight percent respectively. 

Often cited as a reason for increasing crimes, lack of conviction continues to remain abysmal, as per data on serious (class II) crimes. Class II crimes comprise murder, rape, grievous hurt, kidnapping, and abduction. As per the findings, conviction for such crimes continued to be less than 10 percent, though there was a marginal rise from seven percent to eight percent. Overall conviction stood at 22 %. Trial for crimes was low at eight percent while that in class II crimes stood at nine percent. 

Praja representatives said it was imperative that conviction figures rise so that the law and order situation can improve. “It is important that there is more prosecution. Filling up posts in the investigative arm is one solution,” said Nitai Mehta of Praja Foundation. 

Vacancy at the crucial level of assistant police inspector and police sub-inspector-- who do most of the investigation-- was 32 %. Surprisingly, the number of police personnel provided to VIPs for security is one percent in excess of the required number. “Even at the police control rooms where people tend to call for complaints, the vacancy is high. Around 46 % people we surveyed call on numbers 100 and 103. There is a possibility that they did not get through,” said Milind Mhaske, also from Praja. 

Police not being questioned enough was another reason for the poor law and order situation cited in the white paper. Questions raised by elected representatives in the legislature are supposed to keep police on toes, and indeed had a direct impact on crime stats. North Central Mumbai-- that covers areas like Vile Parle, Kurla, Bandra (east and west) and Kalina-- has the least number of questions about crime being raised in the state assembly by the local representatives. The total number of cases in the area, at 37,371, was the highest in the five years from 2009-14. The questions raised, however, were only 341. 

The Praja survey also said that the increasing number of crimes had made 32% citizens feel unsafe. 

In a sample size of 22,580 citizens – around 100 citizens from each corporator ward – six percent witnessed crime. Of these, 50% responded to police if they witnessed any crime. Of these 46% were satisfied with the response. Of those who witnessed crime, 44% faced it. “Lack of time” and “not getting into trouble” were among the top reasons given by people who did not respond to crime cases. People from higher economic strata did not have time while those from lowest strata were those who feared a backlash from reporting crime. Satisfaction rate from all the classes of people stood at 42 %.

Praja stated that they will be shortly meeting the chief minister and home minister with their demands. These would be that the government fill the vacancies in the police force, separate the investigating wing of the police from its law and order wing, and ensure that there is better co-ordination between police and investigating officers. Other demands are that police should reach out to citizens to address their apprehensions and create infrastructure like forensic labs. Another demand is that the police should be better trained to improve law and order. Rakesh Maria, city police commissioner, did not answer calls from dna.