28% decline in heinous crimes like dacoity, abduction, says Bihar governor

PATNA: Bihar Governor Satya Pal Malik on Monday said there is sharp decline in the cases of serious crimes like murder, dacoity, loot, riot and kidnapping for ransom in the state after enforcement of total prohibition on April 5, 2016.
He said heinous crimes like dacoity and kidnapping for ransom, which put very adverse impact on general public have reported 24 to 28% decline in the year 2016 and 2017 compared to 2015 after the state opted for a strict ban on production, sale and consumption of any type of alcohol and alcoholic products.

Addressing the joint sitting of both Houses of Bihar legislature to mark the beginning the Budget session in the state assembly here, Malik said providing a fearless society to its citizens by establishing the rule of law have been the top priority of the state government.

“Strict actions have been taken to check organised crime and solid arrangements under the legal framework have been made to control crime and maintain law and order. Police machinery have been strengthen to such a level that police personnel can competently discharge their duties,” the governor said amidst thumping of benches from the treasury side.

He said as per the data released by the National Crime Record Bureau for year 2016, the national average of cognizable offences on population of one lakh is 233.6, while Bihar’s average rate of cognizable offence is just 157.4. As per the average rate of cognizable offences, Bihar stands at 22nd position in the list of all states and union territories.

Malik also said whatever incidents of serious crimes took place across the state in 2017, police have succeed in solving majority of such cases and ensuring arrest of the involved persons. In many cases, accused persons have been awarded punishment through legal process. “A total of 5, 858 accused persons were awarded punishment through speedy trial in year 2017,” the governor pointed out.

Highlighting the steps undertaken for empowerment of women, Malik said a total of 4,473 women were provided job in different departments after the state government introduced 35% reservation for the fairer sex in the state government’s jobs (in January 2016). Of total 4,473 women, 3,672 were recruited in police department.

He said the state government has implemented ‘Jeevika’ scheme for integrated development of poor and disadvantaged women and promoting the habit of savings among them. A total of 7.47 lakh self-help groups (SHGs), 44,485 village level organisation and 632 cluster-level unions have so far been constituted under the Jeevika scheme for empowerment of rural women.