Surat sees sharp rise in crime graph

Even as the city achieves fame for its high economic growth, increasing criminal activities tell a sordid tale

SURAT: When a recent survey put Surat on the top of the list in terms of household income, everybody knew how the textile-cum-diamond city was making strides in creating job opportunities.

But only a very few knew the darker side of the development story: the city is witnessing a large number criminal activities.

According to a recent study conducted by National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) and Future Capital Research (FCR), Surat topped the list by registering the highest growth rate (16%) during 2004-08 in the average household category.  The diamond city also topped the list with highest household income, even ahead of cities such as Chandigarh, Mumbai, Delhi and others.

However, Surat’s phenomenal growth rate in the last four years has been accompanied by a steady increase in the crime rate. According to figures provided by Surat police, on an average one case of kidnapping is registered in the city every three days.

In 2003, the number of such cases was 59, which shot up to 116 in 2007. But the alarming thing is that in just six months of the current year, the number of kidnappings has reached 72. Four years ago, 77 people were murdered in a year in Surat, while the number crossed 100 last year. The city has witnessed 46 murders between January and June this year.

Amazingly, the cases of loot saw a downfall unlike other crimes till last year but in six months this year, the number has reached 100 as compared to 55 in 2003 and 42 in 2007.

On the whole, the total number of crimes registered with the city police has grown at an alarming rate of around 20 per cent between 2004 and 2008.

Commissioner of police RMS Brar says the rising number of crime is due to rise in population and area. “The crime rate has gone up because along with development, area and population of the city have also increased. But the trend of recent crimes suggests that property disputes and other white collar crimes have increased because of dissatisfaction and deprivation,” Brar said.

However, social scientists attribute the rising number of crimes to a different phenomenon. “Crime is a by-product of development. This is more in our economy as there is disparity in development. The development we are witnessing is limited only to a group of people. The marginalised people are still struggling,” said Sadan Jha, assistant professor at Centre for Social Studies.

“Such development always widens the gap between have-nots and wealthier class, which is troublesome.”

On the part of the police, they need to keep pace with development in the city. For this, says Brar: “We had demanded four new police stations for better policing, which have been recently
accepted.”