Dimapur crime 2019: Murder and rape dips but extortion increases

Abduction for ransom missing from police crime chart

Imkong Walling 
Dimapur | December 30 

The year 2019 has so far been relatively calm in Dimapur as far as public order is concerned. Apart from the fear and anxiety that prevailed in relation to the Indo-Naga political talks in September-October, the overall situation in the city has not given way to any major untoward incidents as to affect public tranquility. 

As far as policing and crime is concerned, the city and Dimapur district in general witnessed a drop in violent crimes if crime data released by the Dimapur police is any indication. 

According to the data (from January to December 28, 2019), incidence of murder and rape remained at single digit figures. However, the menace of extortion persisted unabated with the figure under this crime head increasing in comparison to the previous year’s data. 

The total number of offences cognizable under the Indian Penal Code registered till December 28 stood at 696. For comparison, till December 17, 2018, the figure was 689. The overall total in 2017 was 575, while year 2016 ended with a total of 700 registered offences. 

Murder and rape 

From 17 registered cases in 2018, the Dimapur police crime data stated that 8 murder cases has so far been registered, while 12 persons were arrested in connection to the cases. The totals in 2017 and 2016 were 18 and 10, respectively. 

As many as 12 attempts to murder and 1 culpable homicide have also been registered, while the police arrested 12 persons in connection to the cases.

Under crimes against women, 2 cases of rape has been registered and 3 others relating to assault on women. As per the 2018 data, there were 2 cases of rape, 5 assault on women and 2 under cruelty by husband or his relatives. 

Under ‘Causing death due to negligence,’ 16 cases were registered. 

Theft, extortion and others

The data specifically listed 21 IPC crime heads and another denoted broadly as “other IPC.” Theft led the pack of listed offences with as many as 261 cases registered under various Police Stations in the district and 76 persons arrested. It did not specify vehicle theft. Burglary, robbery and dacoity figured at a combined total of 78 incidents. 

Extortion came second with 140 cases registered and the number of persons arrested stood at 191. Cash amounting to Rs 18,38,495 was also seized from the offenders. Comparatively, till December 17, 2018, the total under the crime head stood at 135. In 2017, the total was 81. 

Kidnapping?

Further, kidnapping and abduction was not listed in the data this time. Queried on this, a district police official explained that as per the law, any missing case involving a minor or woman is deemed as kidnapping. However, he added that “eloping and runaways” account for a majority of the reported cases here, which get clubbed under kidnapping and abduction.
While not included in the data, the official said that some 2-3 cases of abduction for ransom was reported from the district till December. According to the data, 50 “Missing Person” cases were registered this year. 

Special & Local Laws 

Under Special and Local Laws (SLL), the Dimapur police registered a total of 215 different cases till December 28 in the district. Offences under the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act accounted for nearly half of the total of persons arrested under SLL. 

According to the data, 123 persons have been arrested in connection to as many as 99 NLTP offences, resulting in the confiscation of 1,74,904 bottles of illicit liquor.  

23 drug offences have been registered under the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Drugs & Cosmetics (DC) Act. The data did not include details about the quantity of drugs confiscated.  

46 illegal weapons were confiscated in 44 Arms Act-related cases. 33 of the seized weapons were pistols of .22 and .32 calibre, the rest included assault rifles, 12-bore and even an air rifle.