Valley recorded highest number of crimes in Bhadra last fiscal

Kathmandu, August 2

If statistics released by Metropolitan Police Office are anything to go by, the month of Bhadra (mid-August to mid-September) is more vulnerable to crimes in Kathmandu Valley.

The Valley recorded 5,924 incidents of crime in the last fiscal. The month of Bhadra recorded the highest number of 596 crimes followed by Chaitra 554, Shrawan 536, Jestha 521, Asadh 495, Mangsir 487, Falgun 486, Kartik 480, Magh 470, Poush 451, and Asoj 431.

Acting Police Commissioner DIG Bam Bahadur Bhadari said a most of the crimes recorded in Bhadra were social offences. “Our analysis suggests that there is an upward trend in crimes during Bhadra in the Valley.” He attributed lowest crime rate in Asoj to special security plan during Dashain.

Police said more crimes were recorded during monsoon (June to September) as rainy season was an ideal time for criminals, mostly burglars.

Similarly, the Valley sees more crimes between 6:00pm and midnight. As many as 1,615 of the crimes reported in the fiscal 2016-17 occurred during the time, followed by 1,612 between noon and 6:00pm, 1,337 between midnight and 6:00am, and 1,280 between 6:00am and noon. Officials said alcohol-related crimes increased during the time between 6:00am and midnight.

While breaking down the crimes by days of the week, Fridays and Saturdays were more prone to crimes. Police recorded 16 per cent of crimes on Fridays and Saturdays. Likewise, 14 per cent of crimes occurred on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and 13 per cent on Sundays and Mondays. DIG Bhandari said security arrangements were made accordingly.

In terms of gender, males are more likely to commit crimes compared to their female counterparts. Police arrested 7,849 males (96 per cent), 284 females and 14 others in connection with various crimes in 2016-17. Kathmandu constituted 77 per cent of crimes, followed by Lalitpur (15 per cent) and Bhaktapur (8 per cent) in the Valley.

According to the data with the police, the Valley recorded the highest crime rate in the country. Social crimes, domestic violence and burglary are the biggest problems facing cities. Murder, attempted murder, fraud, human trafficking, rape, attempted rape, kidnapping, drug smuggling, robbery, dealing in small arms, theft, cybercrime, and social crimes remain the main challenges to law and order in urban life.