Rape, extortion in the city up

MUMBAI: Crime in the metropolis hasrisen by 14.3 per cent in the first five months of the year compared to lastyear. A more accurate picture of Mumbai''s crime rate is now emerging becausepolice commissioner AN Roy has instructed all stations not tosuppress complaints by not recording them. "There is no cause for alarm. But Iwant greater transparency in the working of the police department," saidRoy.This year as many as 104murders were recorded compared to 87during the same period last year. The number of robberies was 114 (93), thefts2,567 (2,172), rapes 64 (40), chain snatching 359 (276), extortion 76 (55),house breaking 1,046 (906) and riots 66 (38).Roy has the full backing of statehome minister R R Patil. "How can be control crime if we do not know the exactdimensions of the problem? Initially, the crime situation may seem to bedeteriorating, but with improved detection rate I am certain that we will beable to bring it under control," Patil stated. "Certain officers used to claimthat the crime situation was better than what it was decades ago. How is thatpossible when Mumbai''s population has crossed the one-crore-mark? I want tochange all that," said Roy.