Flagging NCRB data, EPS says crimes less in Tamil Nadu

He reeled out statistics to prove that the crime rate in the state was lower during the AIADMK rule in comparison to the earlier DMK regime. Palaniswami said only 2,727 cases were registered annually between 2011-2016, while during the earlier DMK regime, the number stood at 2,941.

Similarly, offences under the POCSO (Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act), which numbered more than 10,000 in many states in 2015, stood at 5,847 in Tamil Nadu proving that efficient policing was helping in controlling crimes, he added. 

He said that the murder cases, which were 1,715 during the DMK rule in 2005 came down to 1,366 during AIADMK rule in 2010, which were further reduced by 11.9 per cent in 2016. 

Murder for gain cases rose by 106.8 per cent during the DMK rule compared to the AIADMK rule, he said. The robbery cases, which numbered 437 in 2005 rose to 1,817 in 2010 an increase of 315.8 per cent in the DMK regime, he added. While a total of 23,068 murder and property dispute cases were registered in 2010, they dropped to 20,055 cases in 2016, the Chief Minister said. 

Referring to statistics put out by the National Crime Records Bureau for 2015, the Chief Minister said that the state registered only 18,263 cases of various types compared to Maharashtra (87,329), UP (60,144), MP (43,163), Rajasthan (36,664), Karnataka (29,463), Bihar (29,105), Haryana (28,493), West Bengal (22,388), Telangana (20,219), AP (19,170) and Gujarat (19,661).

He further said that the state government has been taking steps to fill the vacancies in the police department. The current strength is 1,05,099 lakh personnel against the sanctioned strength of 1,23,570, he added.

The state government would consider releasing Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convict Perarivalan on parole to meet his ailing father, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami assured the Assembly on Saturday. He said that the decision would be taken keeping in mind the sensitivity of the issue and the feeling of the legislators, who supported the demand. 

Replying to the debate on the demand for grants for police department, the Chief Minister said all steps would be taken to release him on parole. Referring to demands made by members of various parties urging the government to release him on parole to meet his ailing father, the Chief Minister said he would respect the sentiments expressed by the members on the issue. 

Earlier, Leader of the Opposition and DMK working president M K Stalin raised the issue and sought to know whether the government would release Perarivalan, who has been lodged in prison for nearly 25 years, on parole. 

Chief Minister Palaniswami further said that MLAs of the ruling party’s allies, S Karunas, Thaniarasu and Thamimun Ansari had met him in his chambers on the same issue and he had immediately consulted Law Minister C Ve Shanmugam and the state advocate general too. “The advice given by the advocate general in this matter is now being examined,” the Chief Minister added.