HYDERABAD: The crime rate in the Rachakonda Police Commissionerate recorded a 4% increase in 2024 compared to the previous year, Commissioner of Police (CP) G Sudheer Babu said on Monday while releasing the Commissionerate’s Annual Report. The rise was attributed to an uptick in cases of murders, kidnappings, rapes and dowry deaths.
Kidnapping cases saw a 10% increase, while rapes, including those involving false promises of marriage, rose by 17%. Murders increased by 11%, dowry deaths by 13% and bodily offences by 9%.
The highest number of cases reported in 2024 pertained to bodily and other offences (22,357), followed by regular theft (1,310) domestic violence (1,222) and automobile theft (1,086).
Drop in crimes against women
Meanwhile, domestic violence cases decreased by 23%, while molestation and POCSO cases saw a 10% decline. Additionally, dacoity cases were down by 50%, robbery by 6%, and both day and night house burglaries by 17%. Automobile thefts and property dispute-related crimes also decreased by 16% and 10%, respectively.
Out of the 33,084 cases reported in 2024, as many as 25,143 cases (75%) were resolved within the year, the highest resolution rate in Telangana.
Crimes against women decreased by 9% in 2024, with 2,893 cases reported compared to 3,172 in 2023. Harassment and domestic violence topped the list with 1,222 cases, followed by molestation (561), rape (384), kidnapping (233) and abetment to suicide (61).
The CP attributed this positive change to the efforts of SHE Teams, Bharosa centres and enhanced patrolling measures.
He added that the commissionerate’s cybercrime unit refunded `22 crore to victims of cyber fraud. Sudheer Babu highlighted that evidence-based and predictive policing helped improve response times, optimise resource utilisation and strengthen capabilities.
Highest conviction rate
The commissionerate also achieved a conviction rate of 64%, marking the highest rate in Telangana for the sixth consecutive year. Among the notable achievements were 30 life convictions, including 14 individuals sentenced to life in solitary confinement for a 2018 murder case reported under Motakonduru police station limits. A total of 160 convictions were secured in contested grave cases.
Anti-drug operations led to the arrest of 521 offenders under the NDPS Act and the seizure of drugs worth Rs 88.25 crore. Effective surveillance was mounted on 159 drug traffickers as part of intensified efforts against drug abuse and trafficking, the CP added.
Road safety
Road accident cases in the commissionerate limits decreased by 12.3%, and fatalities dropped by 12.21% in 2024. Covering 5,122 sq km, including five national highways and a 61-km stretch of the Outer Ring Road (ORR), the commissionerate faced unique challenges due to high commuter traffic, Sudheer Babu said.
Public awareness campaigns, enforcement of the Motor Vehicles Act and coordinated stakeholder interventions were instrumental in achieving these reductions.
The Rachakonda Police Commissionerate focused on visible policing initiatives, including Quick Response Teams (VQT) and bicycle patrolling. Integration of technology played a significant role in managing rising crimes and improving road safety, Sudheer Babu noted.