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Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Oct. 28: With a population of over 3.8 lac according to the 2011 Census, Dimapur district covers an area of 927 sq. km, which is one of the smallest in the state in terms of territory.
As the state’s nerve centre of trade and commerce, Dimapur also suffers from the reputation as the crime capital of Nagaland.
The comparative crime data provided by the Nagaland Police Headquarters (PHQ) shows that from 2013 till 2018 (June 30), out of the 5785 IPC crimes registered in the state, Dimapur district alone accounts for 3250 cases which is more than the total of the other 11 districts.
The crime head under IPC as provided by the PHQ includes murder; attempt to murder; culpable homicide not amounting to murder; rape; kidnapping and abduction; dacoity; robbery; burglary; theft; criminal breach of trust; cheating; forgery; FICN (counterfeit); extortion; rioting; and 'other IPC' crimes.
As per the data, 2016 witnessed the most with as many as 700 IPC cases. There were 551 cases in 2013; 510 in 2014; in 2015; 575 in 2017; and 2018 (till June 30) registered 256 IPC cases.
Out of the 16 crime heads, theft cases topped the chart during all the six consecutive years with 2016 witnessing the most with as many as 301 cases. While crime on ‘riot’ witnessed the least with just seven cases—two cases in the year 2014, four cases in 2015 and a singular in 2017.
Except for 2015, crime cases under 'culpable homicide not amounting to murder' registered 'nil' cases in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Conversely, from 2013 to 2015, there were 15 cases registered under ‘dacoity.’
Also, the data shows that the 'extortion' cases have increased considerably this year (till June 30) — with 67 cases. 2013 witnesses the lowest reports with (only) 62 cases. Comparatively, there were 71 cases in 2014, 84 in 2015, 79 in 2016 and 81 in 2017.
The data also shows that 'murder' crime which witnessed 37 cases in the year 2013 has considerably gone down to 23 cases in the year 2014, 27 cases 2015, 10 cases in 2016, 18 in the year 2017 and six cases this year till June 30.
Kidnapping and abduction cases witnessed the most in the year 2016 with as many as 78 cases while 2018 witnessed the least with 13 cases. 2013 witnessed 27 cases, 2014 with 23 cases, 2015 with 68 cases and 2017 witnessed 47 cases.
‘Attempt to murder’ witnessed the most in the year 2013 with 24 cases. Rape cases topped the chart in the year 2014 with 13 cases. Crime on robbery witnessed the most in the year 2015 with 36 cases. Burglary recorded the most in the year 2016 with 41 cases.
Crime on 'criminal breach of trust' witnessed the most in the year 2014 with 12 cases. While crime under 'other IPC' witnessed the most in the year 2016 with 73 cases.
Though Nagaland's crime rate ranks least in the NE region, yet the number of crime cases recorded in Dimapur district alone is not less than those registered in many districts of the NE states.
Also, out of the 29 states and seven union territories in India, Nagaland ranks third among the lowest crime rate under IPC—after Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Lakshwadeep. This record has been sourced from the National Crime Records Bureau.