Drop in crime rate across Kerala during lockdown, say police

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 11 (): The crime rateacross Kerala came down significantly since the lockdown cameinto effect on March 24 following the spread of coronavirus,state police said in a report.

Prepared by the State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB),the report said there was a decline in the rate during thelockdown period in March 2020 when compared to the sameperiod last year.

It said that from March 25 to March 31, 2019, therewere 12 robbery cases which came down to two during thelockdown period this year.

The report showed there were 18 molestation casesfrom March 25 to March 31, 2020 while there were 92 duringthe same period last year.

However, there was not much decrease in murdercases.

The seven days of lockdown in March 2020 reportedfour murder cases while there were six cases last year.

"It's difficult to curtail offences like murder asit is a spontaneous offence happening out of various personalreasons. But there is a drastic reduction in the number oftheft, riots cases, rape, kidnapping and cheating cases," asenior official of SCRB told .

There was a major decrease in the Special and LocalLaws (SLL) Crimes, including the Arms Act, NDPS Act andothers.

While there were 1,460 road accident cases duringthe seven days between March 25 and 31, 2019, only 97 caseswere reported during lockdown period in March this year.

There were 15 road accident deaths during thelockdown period this year but during the same period lastyear, the death toll was 181.

The state has been under total lockdown from March24, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared nationwidelockdown to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. RRTNVG NVG