Crime rate in Goa declines

PANAJI, DECEMBER 30: The overall crime rate in Goa registered a fall by 17. 29 per cent during this year, state director general of police Rajinder Singh Sahaye said here today. Talking to reporters here, he said as many as 2,539 cases under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) were registered till December 25 this year as against 3070 cases in the corresponding period of last year.

Pointing out that however there was a marginal increase in rape cases, Sahaye said in all the 18 cases of rape the accused were brought to book. He said the number of cases of murder decreased by ten per cent and cases of decoits and robberies fell by 54 per cent and 31. 94 per cent respectively.

Throwing light on the achievements of the state police, the DGP said the police continued its campaign against matka, gambling and as many as 644 cases were detected and registered during the year as against the 291 cases of 1998. The kingpins of matka gambling were also apprehended during some major raids, he added.

Referring to the traffic accidents, Sahaye said his department was contemplanting to work in coordination with the the Road Research Insitute of India, New Delhi, which would make its recommendations to the state government regarding the traffic management strategy to be adopted to cut down the rate of accidents in the coming year.