Case of the missing FIRs

Snatching is Delhi’s runaway crime. The police are aware of it, but have decided the best way to fight it is to not register FIRs, reports Vijaita Singh.

As Abhishek Ghosh stepped out of a Metro station in Dwarka, he was whacked on the back. In a flash of a second, his bag was gone.

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In Shahdara, two bike-borne assailants robbed Uday Sharma of his mobile phone after blinding him with chili powder.

Snatching is Delhi’s runaway crime. The police are aware of it, but have decided the best way to fight it is to not register FIRs. More than 1,100 Delhiites called the police control room in January and February complaining of snatchings. Cases were filed in only 190 instances.

“It’s been over two months and the police haven’t registered any case,” said Sharma.

“When I went to the police, they made of fun me and said three others had come with similar complaints the same day,” said K. Sanjeev of Mayur Vihar, whose mobile was snatched.

He was asked to fill up a form called a non-cognizable crime report — not the same thing as FIR. This form helps the police keep crimes off their books — as only FIRs are counted.

The police deny not filing FIRs. “There is no instruction to not register cases. Action is initiated against cops who don’t register cases,” said joint commissioner of police Karnal Singh.