Dehradun, January 6
Contrary to the general impression that crime is on the rise, crime figures for the Garhwal police range shows that as compared to 2006 and 2007, serious crime came down in 2008. Crime statistics for the Garhwal range indicate that incidents of murder, rape, dacoity, loot and kidnapping for ransom saw a steep decline last year. Except for dowry deaths, all other crime registered a downward trend.

Seven districts of Uttarakhand-Haridwar, Dehradun, Uttarkashi, Tehri, Rudraprayag, Pauri and Chamoli-come under this range. Data compiled by the police administration reveals that out of these seven districts, most of the cases were reported from Dehradun and Haridwar.The incidence of crime in Uttarkashi, Tehri, Rudrprayag, Pauri and Chamoli is minimal.

In 2008, as many as 107 murders were reported, one less than in 2007 and eight less than in 2006. The maximum murder cases in 2008 were from Haridwar (57), followed by Dehradun (38).

In the remaining five districts, 12 cases of murder were reported in 2008. Likewise, the number of rape cases last year came down by almost 25 per cent as compared to the previous two years. As many as 45 rape cases were registered last year, 17 less than 2007. Dehradun also saw a declone in rape cases (See table).

Other crimes, including dacoity and loot, also registered a dip. Only four dacoity cases were registered in 2008 as compared to 17 and 12 in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Cases of looting also saw a decrease last year. Incidents of chain-snatching and burglary also came down.

But dowry deaths saw an increase of 33 per cent. Figures available show that in comparison to year 2006 and 2007, the number of dowry deaths went up to 36 in 2008. The number stood at 29 and 25 in 2006 and 2007, respectively.

The holy city of Haridwar topped the crime chart in the Garhwal range with the maximum number of murders, rapes and dowry deaths reported from the city. Out of 107 murders, 57 cases were committed in Haridwar.

Similarly, out of the total 45 cases of rape, 24 were reported from Haridwar. The city also topped in the number of dowry deaths.

IG Ashok Kumar said it was owing to concerted efforts of the police that the crime rate in 2008 had gone down as compared to the previous two years. He said the police took several measures to prevent crime.

“We nabbed a Bangladeshi and busted a gang involved in loot and dacoity. As a result, there was a considerable decrease in crime in the Garhwal police range,” he said.

“Cases of dowry death were mostly registered on statements made by parents of the victims that they had faced dowry demands,” said the IG. He said 50 per cent of dowry death cases were found to be false. “Half of such cases are suicide due to various domestic reasons,” he said.

Claiming that the crime rate has come down over-all, Ashok Kumar expressed concern over the increasing number of vehicle thefts, particularly autos.

last year as many as 415 cases of theft of vehicle were registered in the Garhwal range.

The figures for 2006 and 2007 stood at 336 and 346, respectively. “Growing vehicle thefts are a matter of concern.

“We are preparing a strategy to deal with the problem”, the IG said. He said he had instructed his men on beat duty to work with caution and show results He had also asked them to intensify verification drive of outsiders.

Dehradun, January 6
IG Ashok Kumar today convened a meeting of senior police officials of the seven districts of Garhwal and expressed concern over the lack of interest shown by the police in nabbing those accused who have a prize on their head.

He directed the police officials to make the respective station incharges accountable and ensure that all such criminals are arrested by March 31, 2009. The IG also instructed the officials to ensure that beat policing system is fully implemented by March 31, 2009. He asked officials to intensify the verification drive for identification of migrants.

The SSPs of Dehradun and Haridwar, Amit Kumar Sinha and Sanjay Gunjiyal, respectively, SPs of Tehri Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi attended the meeting. 

Roorkee, January 6
Even as the nation suffers huge losses due to the nationwide strike by the truck operators, no adverse effect could be felt on the industries in and around the city.

Ravi Parkash, president of Roorkee Small Scale Industries Association, said that any adverse effect on business is yet to be seen even after the passage of 48 hours.

"Almost all small scale industries keep a stock of the required material for one week. A strike lasting two to three days does not affect our business. If the trucks remain off the road for more than a week, then we would start suffering losses," he said.

A strike which lasts a longer duration would affect the production and delivery schedule of the industry. The losses could go up to 35 per cent, if the strike continues more than a week, added Ravi Parkash.

In Roorkee, there are around 100 SSI units while the number of tiny units is over 850. On an average, 25 to 30 trucks are being used for these units.

"Though no significant effects of the strike are evident here, but the situation would change in a day or two if our demands are not met. The poor supply of necessary goods will definitely burn a few holes in the pocket of common man in the coming days," said Yash Pal Rana, president of Roorkee Truck Union, while maintaining that the association is supporting the strike fully.

Rajender Kumar, a local fruit trader, said that on normal days, as many as 50 to 60 trucks daily come to 'Krishi Utpadan Mandi Samiti' with the supply of food items, the number has reduced to one or two due to the strike.

"As a result, the price of fruits and vegetables are bound to go up in a day or two," he added.

Bhagwanpur: Industries in this major industrial town of the area, 25 km from Roorkee, have started feeling the heat of the strike.

Giving inputs, Bhaganpur Industries Association vice-chairman Ram Parkash said, "The losses to the industry here was around 10 per cent on the first day of the strike. If the strike is not called off immediately, the industry here will incur heavy losses."

In Bhagwanpur industrial area, around 150 units, including some big ones like Engineering Trading, Ambuja Cement and Everest, are being run. Over 300 trucks and trailers are used daily for transportation.

Jhabrera: A mixed impact of the strike was seen in this small industrial town, 15 km from Roorkee. Around a dozen industries have been set up here.

Local transporters claimed that routine supply of consumer goods was totally unaffected by the strike. On the other hand, local industrialists were seen hiring tractor-trailers to meet their transportation requirements.

"Except one or two big industries, the rest are small scale industries. So these industries have started hiring tractor-trailers to meet their urgent requirements," said Mahipal, a local transporter.

Landoura: The ongoing truckers strike has forced local brick kiln owners to opt for tractor-trailer as mode of transportation in Landoura, around 10 km from Roorkee.

Making most of the opportunity, the owners of tractor-trailers have increased the fare in this pocket which has more than 100 kilns.

Apart from kilns, the town also has filling plants of Bharat Gas, Indian Oil Corporation and seven industrial units.

"We haven’t felt any significant impact of the strike yet. But it should be called off immediately", said a local industrialist.

Manglore: Similarly, the strike is yet to make an impact here in this small town, located 8 km from Roorkee. The town, which is known as ‘gur-mandi', is heavily dependent on trucks for its business of jaggery.

As the traders have started using tractor-trailers, the supply of goods has remained unaffected.