Police Chief Mahesh Chandra Laddha says law and order improved in city with advanced inputs

Visakhapatnam: The city police cracked many sensational cases and maintained law and order better this year and their major concern for 2019 is to ease traffic congestion, said City Police Chief Mahesh Chandra Laddha during an annual crime review meet held here on Wednesday in the city.

Addressing the media, Laddha said the law and order situation was under control due to advanced collection of intelligence inputs, prevention, quick response, deployment of men in uniform at various strategic locations, effective beat system, special drives, visible policing, utilisation of technology, close coordination among different wings of police and effective control by hierarchy.

In total, 9,333 cases were registered during January 1 to December 23, 2018, whereas in 2017, 9,331 cases were registered and in 2016, 9,380 cases were registered. Over 33 murders took place this year against 37 murders during 2017 and 30 murders during 2016. In which police had cracked four murder cases in the city. The crime against women was high and registered 1,174 cases this year.

The family dispute cases between husband and wife were also increased this year. The registration of cheating cases has also been increased due to false marriage promises. 

Crime against children this year was also increased and registered 123 cases, while it was 90 and 92 during 2016 and 2017 respectively. As per the guidelines of AP CID, all missing cases of minor children are registered as head kidnapping due to that the crime against child was on rise.

Out of 710 reported missing cases, police had traced 494 cases successfully, while some of them had left their house due to love affairs and some others due to studies pressure.  Due to inclusion of cybercrime, the white-collar offences reached to 819 cases while it was reported 665 cases last year.

Police arrested three notorious criminals including three gangs and other accused who were involved in various house breakings and robberies and recovered booty of Rs 5,45,14,093 against 851 property cases this year, which is 58 per cent of recovery and 68 per cent of detention. 

Postal service for issuing traffic challans

Meanwhile the police will use the postal service for issuing traffic violation challans as some laymen who are not using smart phones, were unaware of challans. Coming to traffic wing, the fatal road accidents had come down this year to 300 while 307 were died whereas previously it was recorded 334 accidents and 335 were died in 2017.

As the enforcement has increased, the fatalities decreased, simultaneously the drunk and drive case convictions also raised to 76 per cent more with 1,413 cases during 2018 and it was 335 (2017) and 45(2016).

After introduction of speed laser guns, the police had registered 28,125 over speed cases and around 50 signal lights and solar blinkers were installed. Overall 24,689 drunken drivers and 496 minor drivers were given counseling against traffic violations.

After the DGP RP Thakur inaugurated cybercrime police station/lab, over 50 accused were arrested among 42 cases. Over 548 offences committed through online payment, credit card cloning and other online purchases registering a loss of Rs 4.85 crore and police managed to recover Rs 1.06 crore which is over 22 per cent.

Illegal constructions
He said illegal commercial establishments in the city which are creating hurdles for traffic, will be demolished with the help of local bodies without serving any notices. Stating that the police had identified some commercials establishments at six places in the city, he said the management should provide parking space for customers without creating traffic hurdles.

He also said that police had conducted a meet on parking issue along with GVMC,VMRDA and NMDC officials  in which NMDC agreed to give land which was allotted to them for parking and simultaneously GVMC had drafted plans to develop a multilevel parking system at Jagadamba centre.

He said over 2,449 complaints were lodged through various social media. Based on which the police had registered 276 FIRs and cracked 2,152 cases and 21 cases were pending, Laddha said.

City police had issued 74 tabs to patrolling teams to attend the complaint against “Dial 100” and 108 tabs given to e-beats and the police stations which are monitored through GPRS tracking from control room. 

In the last four months, 48,834 houses were covered under Locked House Monitoring System out of 52,209 houses and 1,321 requests were kept pending. 

Over 11,831 cameras were installed in the last three years under integrated command control centre to connect city community under CCTV surveillance system. Only in the last four months, around 4,915 cameras and 998 CCTV cameras were installed for public view by a team of six police constables and one sub-inspector after provided with training. 

Another 372 CCTV cameras requirement quotation was given for various PSUs to provide under CSR funds. The RTGS- Government of AP sanctioned 1,648 CCTV cameras and 866 were installed and under the smart city, GVMC had provided 525 cameras to connect with the command control centre.