NTR dist sees 21% decline in crimes, 50% jump in convictions

Vijayawada: Crimes under NTR police commissionerate limits declined by 21.66% in 2025, reflecting sharper prevention, improved detection, and stronger prosecution, according to the annual crime review released by police commissioner SV Rajasekhar Babu.Comparative data for 2024 and 2025 shows that property offences dropped by 39.83%, from 1,148 cases to 821, while bodily offences declined by 12.53%, from 1,015 to 902 cases. Crimes against women fell by 15.11%, declining from 1,806 cases in 2024 to 1,569 in 2025, while Pocso cases dropped by 23.64%, from 204 to 165.Among property crimes, ordinary theft cases declined by 27.48%, from 859 to 623, and house-breaking at night fell sharply by 39.24%, from 158 to 96 cases. Robbery cases reduced by 60%, from 35 to 14, while dacoity was eliminated entirely in 2025, compared to two cases the previous year. However, snatching cases rose marginally by 5.17%, from 55 to 58, and murder for gain increased from two to three cases.Detection and recovery performance improved substantially. While reported property offences declined from 1,130 to 816, the detection rate rose from 56.55% to 73%. The value of recovered property nearly doubled, increasing from ₹5.85 crore to ₹11.21 crore, pushing the recovery rate up from 51.78% to 80.70%, even as the value of property lost rose from ₹11.30 crore to ₹13.89 crore.In bodily offences, murders declined by 14.71%, from 39 to 34 cases, while culpable homicide fell from seven to four cases, a 42.86% reduction. Rioting cases dropped by 63.64%, from 11 to four, and kidnapping cases declined by 17.39%, from 54 to 46. Grievous hurt cases decreased by 18.39%, while simple hurt fell by 11.91%. However, attempt to murder cases rose by 4.55%, from 84 to 88.Within crimes against women, marital offences declined by 10%, from 877 to 796 cases. Rape cases saw a marginal reduction of 3%, from 106 to 103, while cases of outraging modesty fell sharply by 19%, from 823 to 670.Road safety indicators also showed improvement. Road accidents declined by 23.39%, from 1,245 cases in 2024 to 1,009 in 2025. Fatal accidents reduced by 16.58%, from 428 to 357, while road accident deaths fell by 19.38%, from 454 to 366. Non-fatal accidents declined by 21.23%, from 937 to 738 cases. Of the 366 road accident deaths recorded in 2025, two-wheeler riders accounted for the highest share at 209, followed by pedestrians (107). Deaths involving three-wheelers stood at 18, four-wheelers at 13, heavy vehicles at four, and other vehicles at 15.In hit-and-run cases, police registered 328 cases, of which 238 were sanctioned for compensation. As many as 36 cases remained pending at police stations, 16 at tahsildar offices, eight at the collector's office, and 30 with the general insurance council. The total compensation sanctioned stood at ₹2 crore.Cybercrime registered one of the sharpest declines, falling by 45.05%, from 293 cases in 2024 to 202 in 2025. Complaints acknowledged through the NCRP/1930 portal declined from 4,797 to 4,308. At the same time, financial intervention increased, with the amount frozen or lien-marked in cyber fraud cases rising from ₹8.26 crore to ₹9.54 crore.Contrary to the overall trend, NDPS cases rose by 19.57%, from 111 in 2024 to 138 in 2025, while economic offences increased by 12.68%, from 606 to 694 cases, reflecting intensified enforcement in these areas.The conviction rate improved significantly, rising from 37% in 2024 to 50% in 2025. Convictions increased from 1,395 to 2,123, while acquittals declined from 2,359 to 2,107, meaning every second case ended in conviction.Sentencing severity also increased, with 27 cases resulting in sentences of three to seven years, marking a 107% rise. Life sentences increased by 50% to nine cases, while sentences of 10 years and above rose by 50% to 18 cases. Cases ending in fines or admonishment increased by 55% to 2,021.Among major breakthroughs was the detection of a ₹2.51 crore iPhone theft racket, with recovery of stolen devices and seizure of a vehicle used in the crime. Police also reported dismantling an inter-state child trafficking network through coordinated operations by the anti-trafficking unit.