CHANDIGARH:
Haryana has witnessed a decline in the number of
criminal cases in 2020, probably due to
Covid-19 pandemic, however, the state has registered a higher number of cases related to
drugs and recovery of
narcotic substances in 2020. The details were revealed in Haryana crime data released by the state
police on Friday.
A total of 2,677 cases were registered by the Haryana police from January 1, 2019 till December 31, 2019 in relation to drugs and this number increased to 3,059 in 2020. The increase is only 382 cases but the spike in the total number of cases linked to drugs despite the state registering fewer criminal cases is alarming.
There also has been a massive increase in the recovery of opium, charas (hashish),
ganja (cannabis), and poppy husk. In 2019, the police had recovered 143 kg opium and this increased to 225 kg in 2020. The recovery of charas (hashish) increased from 149 kg in 2019 to 251 kg in 2020. In 2019, 5,502 kg ganja (cannabis) was recovered and this increased to 9,018 kg in 2020. Similarly, recovery of poppy husk increased from 10,181 kg in 2019 to 12,817 kg in 2020.
The data also reflects that despite restrictive conditions due to pandemic, the cases of drugs and their abuse is surging in Haryana. Various incidents have also reflected a growing trend of drug abuse in Haryana, especially in the districts sharing border with
Punjab.
As far as other criminal offences are concerned, Haryana has registered a decline in 2020 as compared to 2019. As per data provided by the Haryana police, a total of 137,051 criminal cases, including cases registered under the
IPC and under various special and local laws, were registered in 2019 but this declined in 2020 with registration of 128,773 cases in 2020. This clearly reflects a decrease of 8,278 criminal cases in 2020.