Hyderabad's top police official has issued a strong rebuttal to recent statements made by former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao regarding law and order in the city. Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar presented data showing a significant decrease in the crime rate, directly contradicting the claims made by the BRS leader.
Data Dispute: 15% Decline vs 20% Increase Claim
At a press conference a few days prior, K Chandrasekhar Rao had asserted that the crime rate in Telangana had surged by 20%, citing figures from the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB). However, addressing the media at the annual press conference on Saturday, Commissioner Sajjanar firmly rejected this allegation.
"Anyone who looks at the data we have shared will see that the crime rate has gone down and the allegation was incorrect," Sajjanar stated. He emphasized that law and order is under control, which fosters development and a sense of security among citizens.
The Commissioner revealed that Hyderabad has actually witnessed a 15% reduction in its overall crime rate. He provided a breakdown, noting that while cases under specific acts like POCSO, NDPS, and the Gaming Act have seen an uptick, there has been a marked decrease in several major categories.
Crime Trends: Where Numbers Have Fallen and Risen
The police data indicates a decline in incidents of murder, rape, cybercrime, offences under the SC&ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, property-related crimes, and road accidents. Sajjanar attributed this positive trend to proactive measures undertaken by the force.
"The dip in crime has mainly happened because of regular enforcement and visible policing, which has been intensified in recent months," he explained. A key initiative behind this success is Operation Kavach, which involves identifying problematic areas and conducting systematic vehicle checks and patrols.
Looking ahead, the police plan to enhance surveillance by increasing the use of drones, a tool already deployed successfully at events like the Jubilee Hills election.
Future Initiatives and Public Advisory
Commissioner Sajjanar announced that proposals are underway to form a dedicated anti-adulteration team. This squad, to be led by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, will primarily focus on curbing the menace of food adulteration in the city.
On the concerning front of cybercrime, the Police Commissioner issued a crucial advisory to the public. He urged people to only use authorised government-run trading platforms for stock market activities and to remain vigilant against fraudsters who create fake platforms to dupe investors.
In a related development regarding criminal incidents, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South Zone) Kiran Khare shared plans to transform the Old City into a Model City. This effort involves leveraging criminal intelligence and bolstering crime control measures, especially with the upcoming extension of metro services into the area.
The press conference also touched upon the Srushti IVF scam, where an accused repeated the offence after being released on bail. Joint Commissioner of Police Swetha Reddy addressed queries about monitoring, describing it as organised crime and detailing the ongoing investigations, including the seizure of properties from the main suspect.
