CCTVs in place, crime rates still soar

In a bid to curb crimes against women, Delhi Police have identified 930 vulnerable spots also termed as ‘dark stretches’ all across the national Capital. 

Out of the 930 stretches, 350 ‘dark stretches’ are located in the Southern range which comprises the South, South-east and South-west districts. It serves as a grave reminder that the December 16 rape of the 23-year-old physiotherapy intern also took place in the Vasant Vihar area which falls under the same Southern range. 

Despite these discoveries by the Delhi Police, 46,390 cases have still been reported from January 1 to October 30 this year. Meanwhile, around 40,518 CCTV cameras have been installed in the entire Southern range.

Since the rape took place in the South district, around 70 ‘dark stretches’ have been identified while 24,201 CCTV cameras have been installed by the police after that fateful incident in December 2012. 

The tragedy shook the entire nation with people thronging to streets in protest against the heinous crime. In 2015, from January 1 to October 31, 19,757 cases have been registered with the South district police.

Apart from the Southern range, which has the highest number of ‘dark stretches’ and an equally alarming crime rate, the Outer district comes second with 185 dark stretches. Around 8,872 CCTV cameras are installed in the entire district as per the data obtained by the Delhi Police. From January 1 till October 31, 18,780 cases have been reported with the police. 

The Northern range comes third with 99 ‘dark stretches’ where 29,652 CCTV cameras are installed where, in 2015, from January 1 till October 31, 37,578 cases have been registered with the police.

The West district has 76 ‘dark stretches’ with around 8,434 CCTV cameras installed in the area and in 2015 from January 1 till October 31, 19,531 cases have been reported with the police. 

In the East district, 65 ‘dark stretches’ have been highlighted with 22,379 CCTV cameras installed and around 18,258 cases reported in 2015 from January 1 till October 31. 

In the Central district, 40 dark spots have been identified while around 21,792 CCTV cameras have been installed with around 9,800 cases reported from January 1 till October 31 of this year.