The crime rate is spiralling with the maximum rise recorded in crimes falling under the “crimes against property” category in the country. A total of 18,78,293 Indian Penal Code (IPC) crimes were reported during the year 2006 against 18,22,602 in 2005, recording an increase of 3.1 per cent in 2006. Madhya Pradesh with 10.4 per cent has accounted for the maximum crimes under IPC followed by Maharashra with 10.2 per cent and Andhra Pradesh with 9.3 per cent.

Notably, a decline has been noticed in number of persons arrested, persons chargesheeted as well as persons convicted in the year 2006 in comparison to 2002.

Persons pending investigation has suffered an increase over the same period. The persons pending investigation has risen each year with such figures standing at 500,199 in the year 2002 and steadily rising to 606,520 in the year 2006, says the Union home ministry’s annual report 2007-08.

A total of 3,92,352 violent crimes against property were recorded in the year 2006 as compared to 3,88,867 crimes during 2005 showing a “marginal increase” of 0.9 per cent, says the report. Crimes against body, including murder, kidnapping and abduction rose by 0.2 per cent in the same period and crimes against public order showed an increase of 0.7 per cent. Crimes enlisted under murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping etc stood at 4,30,498, accounting for 22.9 per cent of the total IPC crimes during the year 2006, says the MHA report. Riots and arson amounted to 65,121 in the same year, it says. Crimes falling under Special and Local Laws increased by 0.6 per cent.