Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 12

Himachal is an oasis of peace and safest place in North India with the lowest number of murders.

Though crimes like brutal murder of four-year-old Yug and rape of a girl in Kotkhai did rock the region, as compared to other states, Himachal largely remains at the bottom of the graph.

Killings decline As many as 99 murder cases were reported in the state in 2018 as per the National Crime Record Bureau’s report for 2018, which was just 0.3 per cent of the total murder cases in the country. As many as 99 murder cases were reported in the state in 2018 as per the National Crime Record Bureau’s report for 2018, which was just 0.3 per cent of the total murder cases in the country. The data revealed that 181 murder cases were registered in Jammu and Kashmir, which was 0.6 per cent of the total cases, followed by Uttarakhand 211 cases (0.7 per cent), Punjab 684 cases (2.4 per cent) Haryana 1,104 cases (3.8 per cent) and Rajasthan 1,502 cases (5.2 per cent).

Reasons behind the maximum number of murders were property, land, family and money disputes, accounting for 18 deaths, while personal vendetta and murder for gain took 12 and four lives, respectively. Illicit affairs and love affairs led to 16 murders, honour killing (six) blind murders (three), political rivalry (one), honour killing (six). As many as 39 murders were attributed to other causes. Interestingly, no murder for dowry, road rage, human sacrifice and rivalry was reported in the state.

As many as five victims of murder were minors in the 0-16 age-group, 29 in the 18-30 age-group, 46 in the 30-45 age-group, 18 in the 45-60 age-group and three above 60. About 92 per cent of the murder cases were solved. Installation of CCTV cameras helped in immediate arrests of culprits and CCTV surveillance created fear among criminals.

“The number of murder cases further reduced to 69 in 2019,” said DGP SR Mardi, adding that the data indicated that Himachal was a peaceful state and safe for investment.