Tech-savvy Lahore police helpless to control street crime

LAHORE

Tech-savvy commanders of Lahore Police seem helpless in controlling street crimes even after the introduction of Intelligent Patrolling System in the provincial metropolis.

The comparison of crime data available for the first four months of 2016 and 2017 shows no respite to the Lahorites rather robbery incidents increased in the current year. 

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was impressed when CCPO Lahore Amin Wains during the last year introduced new technology-based initiatives to bring reforms in thana culture but with the passage of time the cosmetic reforms in policing yielded zero results. 

Dolphin Force and PERU which could have helped in eliminating crime clusters in six divisions of Lahore Police were also diverted to security duties and fruitless patrolling.

In 2016, CCPO Lahore and DIG Operation held record number of meetings with divisional SPs, DSPs, SHOs and even with moharars to review crime situation in the City. However, the officers remained busy in meeting and they could not find time to implement the discussed strategies.

It is unfortunate that the citizens still cannot get their FIRs registered without greasing the palms of moharrars and duty officers. The front desks have also been losing its identity because the citizens are welcomed at the police station but their applications are again put in the traditional system.  

The comparison of Crime Clusters (robberies-392 PPC) from January 01- April 30, 2017 and January 01 to April 30, 2016 shows similar occurrence of incidents in six divisions of Lahore Police. 

In 2016, in Cantt Division, six incidents of robbery were reported on GT Road near Softmint, Dhobi Ghat and Daroghawala within one kilometer in the Baghbanpura police limits. FIRs 511, 544, 482, 162, 171 and 426 were registered during the first four months of last year. Robbers hit the citizens between 4pm to midnight. 

In 2017, same number of incidents were reported on GT Road near Softmint, a bakery, a pharmacy within an area of hardly one kilometer in the Baghbanpura police limits. Police registered FIRs 521, 415, 327, 157, 66, and 157 under robbery offence. 

In City Division in 2016, three robbery incidents were reported on Alamgir Road in Islampura police limits. Police registered FIRs 122, 78 and 497 against criminals. 

Four robbery incidents were reported in the Islampura police limits. The incidents occurred on Chohan Road, Alamgir Road and Happy Road in 2017. The FIRs 781, 77, 176 and 179 were registered at Islampura police station. These robberies were committed in the radius of less than one kilometer. 

In Civil Lines Division, five robbery incidents were reported on Poonch Road in 2016. Police registered FIRs 242, 236, 299, 222 and 188 in the Lytton Road police limits.

In 2017, the robbery bids rose to six on the same road and the same police limits. Police registered FIRs 49, 110, 113, 106, 87 and 188 under robbery offence.

In Iqbal Town Division, seven robbery incidents were reported in Muslim Town and Wahdat Colony police limits during the first four months of 2016. The FIRs included 300, 65, 52, 192 and 199 at Muslim Town and 22 and 207 at Wahdat Colony police station.  

In 2017, on Wahdat Road, seven robbery bids were reported without any relief to the commuters. The FIRs included 102, 171, 94, 175, 29, 330 and 99 at Muslim Town, Wahdat Colony and Iqbal Town police limits. 

In Model Town division, six incidents of crime against property were reported on Ferozpur Road in the limits of Ichhara police station in 2016. The FIRs included 776, 364, 384, 132, 423 and 283. 

In 2017, the same number of robberies were reported on Ferozpur Road. The incidents were reported under FIRs 295, 93, 182, 68, 181 and 83.  

In Sadr division, 11 robberies were reported in first four months of 2016 on Multan Road from Thokar Niaz Beg to Chuhng in the Chuhng police limits. The incidents were registered under FIRs 286, 350, 249, 337, 230, 239, 261, 50, 837, 519 and 553. Most the incidents were reported in afternoon to midnight. 

In 2017, the number of these incidents slightly decreased to nine. The incidents were registered under FIRs 140, 631, 59, 443, 421, 434, 347, 320 and 622. A senior officer of Lahore Police, requesting anonymity, said the situation on ground is very different as compared to the tall claims of Lahore Police commanders.  Efforts were made to contact CCPO Amin Wains but his phone was not responding.