Karachi: Motorbike theft cases increased in the metropolis last year despite the ongoing operation against criminals though a significant reduction was noted in vehicle snatching cases, according to a performance report released by police to the media on Friday.
However, in order to control major crimes such as targeted killing, kidnapping for ransom, extortion and terrorism, the police paid a heavy price, with the killing of at least 79 policemen in the city during the year 2015.
About the motorbike theft cases, the police report stated that the number of motorbikes stolen during the years 2014 and 2015 were 17,191 and 17,551, respectively, indicating an increase of 5.84 per cent in the crime.
However, motorcycle and car snatching incidents dropped by 70pc, according to the police report.
Killings
Overall 68pc decrease was recorded in number of murder cases in the city last year as compared to those during the year 2014. The report stated that a total of 874 people lost their lives last year, while 1,823 had been killed in 2014.
Targeted attacks claimed the life of 153 people last year and 189 people in 2014, showing a drop of 26pc in casualties in terror incidents.
A significant reduction, over 82 per cent, was reported in casualties in terrorism cases, said the police, citing that the number of people killed in such incidents dropped from 136 in 2014 to 32 last year.
Also, the cases of kidnapping for ransom decreased from 119 to 36 and the number of extortion cases in the city were reduced to 210 from 423.
Encounters
In as many as 1,605 encounters during the past year, the law enforcers killed 551 suspects and busted 872 gangs as per the police report. Of the suspects, 165 were militants, two were kidnappers and 384 dacoits/robbers.
The police also claimed to have arrested a total of 31,099 suspects last year. Of them, 496 were suspected militants, 342 alleged killers, 116 extortionists, 22 kidnappers and 3,391 absconders. A majority of the arrests (of 16,214 persons) were made in ‘petty crimes’, followed by the arrest of 4,447 persons on charges of violation of narcotics and 5,067 arrest in violation of Arms Ordinance.
During the operation, the police seized 653 bombs/hand grenades and nine suicide jackets besides a huge quantity of explosive material.
They also claimed to have solved 27 ‘high-profile and sectarian cases’ last year. The cases included the brazen attack on Karachi airport, Safoora Goth carnage in which 45 persons of Shia Ismaili community were killed, the murder of human rights activist, Sabeen Mehmud, attack on US national Dr Debra Lobo, the murder of PTI leader Zohra Shahid, Prof Shakeel Auj, terror attack on justice Maqbool Baqar Rizvi, murder of Advocate Rehmat Ali Randhawa and murder of police officials deputed for the security of polio workers.
Casualties
According to the report, 79 policemen were killed in the metropolis last year as compared to 142 in the previous year. Of them, 67 policemen fell victim to targeted killing as they lost their lives in bomb blasts or were killed by hit men last year.
Nine policemen were gunned down by criminals in encounters, while three policemen were killed while resisting armed robberies.
A total of 94 suspects allegedly involved in the killing of policemen were arrested, while a suspected militant involved in the killing of a deputy superintendent of police was killed, the police stated.
