The crime rate in the country (number of cases registered per one lakh population) went up in 2019 compared to 2018, but Maharashtra’s crime rate declined over the same period, latest central government data showed. Maharashtra ranks eighth in the country; its crime rate is less than those of states like Kerala, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan, according to the National Crime Records Bureau, which works under the Union home ministry.

The total number of crimes registered under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in Maharashtra also came down in 2019. In India, the crime rate rose steadily from 2017 to 2019: it was 237.9 cases per one lakh population in 2017, then rose to 241.2 in 2019, said police sources. “The rate of crime in Maharashtra in 2018 was 280.62 cases per one lakh of population, which decreased to 278.4,” the source said. According to the data, the state’s conviction rate improved from 41.41per cent in 2018 to 49 per cent 2019; in 2017 it was 32.45 per cent.

Out of the total of 32.25 lakh IPC crimes registered in the country, Maharashtra came second with 3.41 lakh, after Uttar Pradesh, as per the data. 4.17 lakh violent crimes were reported in India in 2019; Maharashtra ranked fourth, with 44,074 cases, after UP, Bihar and West Bengal. The “rate of violent crimes” in Maharashtra was 36 in 2019, putting it on 11th position in the country. India’s crime rate related to murder in 2019 was 2.2, while Maharashtra’s was 1.7, putting it at 25th position.

In the category of crime rate related to attempt to murder offences, Maharashtra’s rank was 17. In the “grievous hurt” category, the state ranked sixth, behind MP, Kerala, Bihar, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

Maharashtra’s rank was eighth in the country in the category related to crime rate per one lakh population in assault cases against women with intent to outrage modesty. The state registered 2,299 rape cases in 2019 (fourth rank), behind MP (2,485), UP (3,065) and Rajasthan (5,997).

In the category of cases registered under the Arms Act for possession of illegal arms, there were a total of 44,823 cases in India, while Maharashtra saw 910 cases and was ranked ninth in the country.

The state police’s top brass over the last few years has concentrated on checking preventable violent crimes via intensive beat patrolling, tasking unit heads to personally monitor important cases and ramping up investigation and prosecution efforts, the sources said. Maharashtra’s Director General of Police, Subodh Jaiswal, told Mirror: “We have been emphasised on strong, sustained crackdown on crime via preventive action making unit chiefs like sub-divisional police officers and ASPs do close supervision of important cases, take ownership.”

The DGP said, “Prevention police actions – including those under the provisions of Code of Criminal Procedure, National Security Act, Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities acts – increased to 4.28 lakh in 2019 from 3.43 lakh in 2018 and 3.46 lakh in 2017.”

Contextualising the data, the source said, “The reduction of crime rate in the state in 2019, compared to 2018, is a positive indicator and it also gets reflected in the check on preventable serious, violent crimes in Maharashtra. It must be kept in mind that as compared to other highly populated states, Maharashtra police holds the reputation of promptly registering crimes after complaints are reported and there is no manipulation of data.”

Maharashtra ranks third largest in the country in terms of geographical area (after Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh), while population wise as per the 2011Census data, the state is ranked second after Uttar Pradesh, the source pointed out. Maharashtra is the most urbanised state in India, with more than 50 per cent of the population concentrated in urban areas and high literacy rate, he said.