Crime Surge Rattles Delhi

September sees a spike in murder & robbery cases, cops on overdrive

- Chayyanika Nigam And Ajay Kumar

On Thursday morning, a youth was chased and stabbed to death for resisting a robbery attempt in Sagarpur. Many saw chilling images of the crime captured on CCTV cameras.

During the day, another clip surfaced, showing two bike-borne men snatching a female journalist’s mobile phone in Okhla. The crime had taken place on Monday. In both cases, the accused have not been arrested.

On Wednesday morning, another video had rocked the city as it showed a property dealer-turned-politician being shot dead even as he jumped off his car outside his office in Dwarka. The murder had taken place a day before. On Thursday, the police arrested a shooter in the case.

On Sunday evening, a journalist had been attacked by phone thieves in Chittaranjan Park, leaving her with multiple serious injuries. The police are yet to make any arrest in the case. “Footage from multiple CCTV cameras is being analysed. Suspects are being questioned,” said Atul Kumar Thakur, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South).

RESIDENTS RATTLED

A sudden spike in crime cases, many of them caught on camera, has rattled the city. In September, Delhi saw 130 robberies, 420 snatchings, 40 murders, 35 attempts to murder, 160 rapes, 200 molestations, 450 kidnappings, 200 burglaries, 150 house thefts and 3,400 motor vehicle thefts.