158 murders so far in 2022 not a happy situation, says Punjab DGP

Top police official says monthly average down compared to previous two years

Punjab DGP V.K. Bhawra on Monday said 158 murders took place in the State so far in 2022 — an average of 50 per month — and claimed that the number has marginally decreased compared to the last two years.

Mr. Bhawra said there have been recent media reports about the rise in gangster–related murders.

At a press conference in Chandigarh, Mr. Bhawra said 724 murders took place in 2021 and 757 in 2020. The monthly average was 60 in 2021 and 65 in 2020.

“This is not a happy situation. The police have been making strenuous efforts to eliminate the gangster culture and will continue to make efforts in this direction,” he said, while soliciting the cooperation of the public to further bring down the crime graph.

The Aam Aadmi Party government has been facing criticism from the Opposition parties including the Congress, the Shiromani Akali Dal, the Bharatiya Janta Party over the deteriorating law and order.

Mr. Bhawra said by taking action against organised gangs and criminals since January 1, 2022, various units of the police have busted 16 gangster modules and arrested 98 individuals involved in these activities. He said six gangster crime–related murders were witnessed in 2022, all of which have been traced after a thorough investigation on professional lines and 24 accused involved in these cases have been arrested.

“Apart from these, there were nine non–gangster murders that occurred during 2022 causing a sensation amongst the general public which have also been traced and most of the accused have been arrested,” said the DGP. He said family–matrimonial disputes, rivalry or monetary disputes, etc were among the main reasons behind these crimes.