Baleshwar: Odisha’s crime rate has not increased over the last two years despite a rise in the number of cases registered in some categories, DGP-in-charge Vinaytosh Mishra said on Saturday, attributing the increase largely to intensified police enforcement and special drives against illegal activities.
Speaking to reporters in Baleshwar, Mishra urged people not to assess the state’s law-and-order situation merely by looking at the number of cases registered, saying the police had stepped up action against several offences and illegal activities.
“When you are going outside, you should not think that your sister or mother may not return safely. Do not judge the situation only by the number of crimes. I have checked the data for the last two years and, even according to the numbers, the crime rate has not increased,” he said.
Mishra said the increase in registered cases in certain categories was an outcome of stronger enforcement rather than a deterioration in the overall law-and-order situation.
He said the police had intensified its campaign against drunk driving over the past two years, which had helped check road accidents and fatalities.
“In the last two years, we have worked extensively on the drunk-driving campaign. This has helped reduce road accidents and fatalities. Earlier, fatalities were increasing, but now the situation has plateaued,” he said.
The DGP-in-charge also cited the police’s ‘Nasha Mukt’ campaign as one of the reasons for an increase in cases detected under certain categories. He said intensified enforcement during the campaign had resulted in the detection of more cases, with the number increasing by around 20%, 22% and 25% in different years.
Mishra also highlighted the police action against illegal sand mining, saying it had contributed significantly to the rise in the number of registered cases.
Around 700 cases related to illegal sand mining had been registered in Baleshwar over the last two years, he said.
“If we do not take action in such cases, the number of crimes will naturally appear lower. Our focus is on taking action against such illegal activities,” Mishra said.
He further said the police had intensified action under the Arms Act, with 54 cases registered this year.
“Our campaign is ongoing, and we will continue to take action against illegal activities,” Mishra said.
The DGP-in-charge maintained that the police would continue to focus on enforcement and action against illegal activities while working to ensure public safety and maintain law and order across the state.
