Rising crime trends in Chandigarh across various categories

The theft of gold jewellery and 5,000 Canadian dollars from a residence in Sector 12-A, Panchkula, is under investigation by the police. Jaswinder Kaur, the complainant, reported that after returning from Canada in January, she stored 5,000 Canadian dollars and a gold set in an almirah. On February 2, a family friend, Harjit Kaur of Sector 28, Chandigarh, visited, and Jaswinder left her house in Harjit’s care briefly. Upon her return, Jaswinder discovered her valuables missing and suspects Harjit’s involvement. Despite attempts to contact Harjit, she has been unreachable. The police have registered a case under Sections 380 (theft) and 454 (house trespass) of the Indian Penal Code at the Sector 14 police station.
The reported data indicates a notable shift in the crime landscape in Chandigarh, with certain trends diverging from the previous year. Notably, crimes against women have shown a decrease from the preceding year, while offences against children have remained relatively stable, experiencing only a marginal decrease of 10 cases. In contrast, economic offences have seen a significant uptick, doubling in number compared to the previous year.
One of the most striking shifts is observed in cybercrime, where there has been an 80% surge in reported cases in 2022 when compared to 2021. This underscores a growing concern for digital security and the need for enhanced measures to combat cyber threats.
The senior superintendent of police in Chandigarh, Kanwardeep Kaur, has emphasized a distinctive aspect of the city’s policing system. Unlike some states, Chandigarh follows a system of free and prompt registration of cases. The ready registration of FIRs (First Information Reports) is viewed as a testament to a fair and transparent policing system rather than an indication of an actual increase in crime rates. According to Kaur, the crime situation in the city remains well under control, and the statistical changes should not be misconstrued as evidence of a rising crime trend.
In essence, the reported crime statistics reflect a complex interplay of various factors, including changes in reporting practices, evolving crime patterns, and the proactive approach of local law enforcement in Chandigarh. It is crucial to interpret these figures judiciously, considering the unique aspects of the city’s policing system and the broader societal context in which these crimes occur.
While crimes against women in general have shown a decrease, rape cases have seen a slight increase. Out of the 78 reported rape cases involving women in 2022, 61% (48 cases) were related to minor girls. In comparison, the city registered 74 rape cases in 2021, up from 60 in 2020 but lower than the pre-pandemic figure of 112 cases in 2019. Notably, 21 rape victims were between 12 and 16 years old, another 21 were in the 16 to 18 age group, and six victims were below 12 years of age, including two toddlers below two years old. Over the past three years, a total of 969 cases of crimes against women have been registered. Although there has been a decrease from the previous year when 343 cases were reported in 2021, the total cases for 2022 stand at 325. Notably, there are 112 cases of women abduction registered in 2022. The report also highlights 42 registered cases of sexual harassment of women (outraging modesty), including 10 cases involving minor victims. In the realm of crimes against children, the recorded cases have witnessed a slight decrease, with 224 cases reported in 2022 compared to 234 cases in 2021. Among these incidents, one tragic case involved the murder of a child, while a concerning 115 cases pertained to missing children. The police responded by registering cases of kidnapping based on the complaints received. Additionally, ten cases were documented regarding the outraging of modesty of minor girls.
Turning attention to crimes against senior citizens, the figures reveal a notable increase in incidents. In 2021, 22 senior citizens, aged 60 and above, experienced various crimes, but in 2022, this number surged to 74. Of these, a significant majority, comprising 61 senior citizens, both men and women, became victims of crimes such as forgery, cheating, and cyber-related offences. The remaining senior citizens fell prey to crimes like snatching, burglary, and similar offences.
These statistics underline the multifaceted challenges in safeguarding vulnerable segments of the population, including children and senior citizens, and underscore the need for comprehensive efforts to address and prevent such crimes. The specific details of the cases highlight the diverse nature of offences, ranging from heinous crimes like murder to the intricacies of cyber-related incidents, necessitating a nuanced and vigilant approach by law enforcement and society at large.
Instances of economic offences in Chandigarh have undergone a significant surge, doubling from 156 cases in 2020 to 178 in 2021 and escalating further to 305 in 2022, marking a substantial 95% increase, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report. The Economic Offenses Wing (EOW) has observed that the majority of cases involve cheating, forgery, and fraud.Breaking down the figures, the highest number of cheating cases, totalling 95, were reported when the financial loss incurred ranged between 1 to 10 lakh, closely followed by 92 cases where the loss was less than 1 lakh.