Crime graph up but conviction rate in State only 8% in 5 years

SHILLONG: Meghalaya has seen a spurt in crime in the last few years but the rate of conviction has remained abysmally low.
The Meghalaya Police statistics of the last five years show 20,145 cognizable crime cases were reported of which in only 1,576 cases (approximately 8%) accused were convicted.
The data also reveals that 1,822 cases were disposed of and 6,974 ended in final report. Charge sheets were filed in 9,468 cases.
In 2010, of the 2,640 cases registered, conviction was made in only 260 cases. Charge sheets were filed in 1,153 cases, final report was submitted in 1,005 and 320 were disposed of.
In 2011, 2,887 cases were registered in Meghalaya but the rate of conviction was around 12% at 336. Charge sheets were filed in 1,223 cases, 447 were disposed of and 919 cases ended in final report.
The statistics for 2012 is even poor with only 126 convictions out of 2,761 cases. Charge sheets were filed in 1,289 cases. In the same year, final report was submitted in 903 cases and 126 cases were disposed of.
As per police statistics, in 2013, 3,468 cases were registered and charge sheets were filed in 1,624 cases. However, conviction was made only in 159 cases, i.e around 5%.
The Meghalaya police performed well in 2014 as they managed to file charge sheets in 2,114 of 3,983 cases reported but once again the conviction rate was only 6% at 254.
Last year, 4,406 cases were registered and charge sheets were filed in 2,065 cases. This time, the conviction rate has gone up to around 10% at 420.