Safety in Delhi improves: Police data shows decrease in rape, murder

NEW DELHI: Delhi has seen a notable improvement in its law and order situation, as per data shared by the Delhi Police on Saturday.

The report highlights a decrease in cases of murder, robbery, rape and molestation compared to the previous year.

The data shows that murder cases reduced from 506 in 2023 to 504 in 2024. Robbery cases also dropped from 1,654 in 2023 to 1,510 in 2024. Similarly, molestation cases decreased from 2,345 in 2023 to 2,037 in 2024. Cases of rape also declined, with 2,141 reported in 2023 compared to 2,076 in 2024.

Commenting on the situation, Delhi Police's Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), Ravindra Yadav, stated on Friday that whenever concerns about law and order in the capital have been raised, the police have responded with factual data. He added, "I don’t wish to comment on political matters as I am a police officer, not a political leader."

This improvement comes amid criticism from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, who has raised concerns over Delhi's safety. Kejriwal had previously written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, pointing out that Delhi ranks first among 19 metro cities in crimes against women and murder cases.

In December 2024, Kejriwal requested a meeting with Shah to discuss these concerns, emphasizing that law and order in Delhi is under the purview of the Central Government. He highlighted issues such as extortion gangs and the city being labeled the "crime capital."

Additionally, in November 2024, the Delhi High Court directed the Delhi Government and Delhi Police to create a comprehensive action plan, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), to address bomb threats and other emergencies. The court set an eight-week deadline for implementation.

The law and order situation is a critical topic as Delhi heads to assembly elections on February 5, with results set to be announced on February 8.