Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, August 28: The crime rate in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, which come under the jurisdiction of the Commissionerate Police, is more than 50 per cent of the state average. This was revealed in the CAG’s report on the General and Social Sector for the year ended March 2014.
“Despite introduction of a Commissionerate system, crime rate under the CP jurisdiction during 2008-13 was three per 1,000 population, which was 50 per cent more than that of the state average,” the CAG said.
Operational efficiency of the Commissionerate system remained unevaluated as Key Performance Indicators had not been fixed to assess efficiency.
“Out of 7,767 cases pending for investigation with the CP as of March 2014, 935 cases (12 per cent) were pending for more than five years,” the report said. “Out of 473 registered cases test-checked, in 343 cases (73 per cent), the time of first spot visit by police was not mentioned in the crime index register and in 27 cases (21 per cent) there were delays ranging from more than one hour to 10 hours.”
In 48 cases, FIRs were lodged with a delay of 1 to 56 days from the time of entry in the station diary and in 88 cases, FIRs were not handed over to the complainant as of March 2014.
Shortage of weaponry, availability of staff much below prescribed norms, inadequate mobility support due to non-availability of drivers and special police officers marred the operational preparedness of CP, the CAG said.