Varanasi:
In 2024, Varanasi police faced increasing cyber crime challenges while achieving notable success in reducing traditional crimes and improving traffic management. Commissioner of Police Mohit Agrawal highlighted these efforts in the annual performance report released on Tuesday.

Cyber Crime Challenges

Cyber crime surged as a major concern, with 80 criminals from 19 gangs arrested and ₹5.79 crore recovered. Among the cases, a retired teacher lost ₹3.18 crore to fraudsters impersonating telecom regulators, and an ex-serviceman lost ₹98 lakh in a digital scam.

Key achievements:

• Mobile numbers blocked: 5,531
• Fake social media accounts shut down: 81

Crime Rate Decline

Despite cyber crime, traditional crimes saw a significant drop:

• Murders: 35 in 2024, down from 41 in 2023
• Robberies: 16 in 2024, a 27% decline
• Dacoities: Zero cases in 2024
  Vehicle theft, burglary, and other crimes also declined, though attempted murders rose slightly to 28 cases in 2024.

Key Investigations Solved

The crime branch resolved 13 major cases, including:

• An eight-year-old girl’s murder during a rape attempt
• A teenager’s murder in Nadesar

Traffic Improvements

Traffic regulation was another focus area, with new U-turns introduced at key crossings and dedicated routes for auto-rickshaws. However, delays in road-widening projects limited the full impact of these measures.

Conclusion

While cyber crime posed challenges, Varanasi police achieved significant milestones in reducing overall crime and improving city safety in 2024.

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