Mumbai - CRIME REPORT

Source: Bombay Police (figures for Jan-Dec every year)

crime 1994 1995

Murder 354 357
Attempt to murder 229 195
Dacoity 112 131
Preparation for dacoity 57 49
Robbery 718 704
Attempt at robbery 44 53
Extortion 588 535
Housebreaking (day) 666 656
Housebreaking (night) 2041 2299
Thefts 9927 11611
Pocket picking 381 461
Motor vehicle thefts 2429 2685
Chain snatching 890 90
Stabbings 81 12
Hurts 4732 5240
Riots 201 179
Rape 150 210
Other IPC cases 11738 14010

Total 35338 40289

The police claims to solve about half of all registered cases. It is claimed that about 35% of the reported crimes are committed by professional criminals and about 65% by casual criminals. However, there are reports in the press about Bombay's awesome mafia.
White Collar Crime
About 650 employees of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), including administrative staff, monitor 1,500,000 government and semi-government employees. Between January and October 1995 they have brought cases against 363 individuals.
cases against number
Class III employees 181
Class II employees 31
Class I employees 20
Other public servants 22
Private individuals aiding corrupt public officials 107

*One woman raped in Mumbai every 2nd day.

Crime and Prevention

The Mumbai Police Department
Phone numbers for all the police stations in Mumbai and the history of the Mumbai police.
Computerised Crime and Criminals Information System
The Mumbai police went online in 1997. It's criminal records are computerised for easy access by law-enforcement agencies.
Crime rates in Bombay
Statistics on crime rates in Mumbai are released every year by the police department.
Traffic accident rates in Bombay
Traffic accident rates remain extremely high in Mumbai, according to the statistics released by the police department.

Mumbai Tops Rape List
Though most of the cases of molestation and rape still go unreported, the reported cases have increased in Maharashtra.
Every three hours a woman is molested in Maharashtra, and one rape occurs at the interval of six hours, the figures of crime reveal. The cases of rape, reportedly, increased by 10 percent during 2004.
Seen in view of the recent rape cases at Marine Drive and Sahar airport (both involving policemen), the fact is Mumbai accounts for the highest number of rape and molestation cases recorded every year in the state.
According to the statistics compiled by the state crime records bureau up to 2004, 187 cases of rapes were reported in the city in 2004 accounting for 13.47% of all such cases in the state.Together with the adjoining Thane rural (60) and Thane commissionerate area (57), Mumbai would in fact account for over 20% of all rape cases in the state. Pune also accounts for a high number of rape cases (63) in 2004, followed by Yavatmal (62). Mumbai also registered the highest number of molestation cases with 321 incidents followed by Yavatmal (129) and Amra-vati rural (127).
The total number of reported rape cases in 2004 was 1,392 as against 1,276 the previous year and shockingly, more than 45% involved girls below 18. In as many as 419 cases, the victim was in the age group of 14-18 and in 133 cases the girl was in the age group of 10-14, while 85 cases were reported of girls who were below 10 years.
Incidents of molestation and sexual harassment too have gone up in recent times. In 2004, incidents of molestation increased by 7% with 2,831 cases reported across the state.

Overall Crime and Safety Situation Crime Threat Crime is moderate for a city with 18 million (or more) inhabitants. To date, crime has not affected expatriates to an unusual degree. While street crime from pick pocketing to robbery/assault is not uncommon, areas frequented by foreigners are less vulnerable since they enjoy a generally adequate police presence. Murders and other violent crimes do occur in Mumbai and for the most part have been isolated in the congested parts of the city. High density areas such as slums and crowded apartment blocks are often the scenes of violent crime and organized crime activity. Most expatriates report nuisance level crimes such as pick pocketing and minor scams. As India’s IT sector expands so does the complexity and capability of organizations conducting organized white collar financial scams and crimes. West African/Nigerian fraud rings are also active in Mumbai. While these groups target lower income Indian citizens, it is not uncommon for the groups to use the names of actual American diplomats or businessmen in their fraudulent materials. Safety Concerns Roads in Mumbai are in moderate condition, but the city’s infrastructure is not keeping pace with its rapid growth. There is extreme traffic congestion in Mumbai, which does have the positive effect of limiting many high speed traffic accidents/fatalities. Emergency medical services in Mumbai are extremely limited. Ambulances are poorly equipped and traffic congestion often prevents an individual from making it to a hospital within the golden hour of trauma. Efforts are being made to improve the city’s emergency medicine/trauma care capabilities. Political Violence Regional Terrorism Terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Tobia have shown a willingness to target Mumbai, since the vibrant city is the financial capital and entertainment capital of India. In August 2003, two improvised explosive devices exploded in Mumbai at a public market and at the Gateway of India. On July 11, 2006, terrorists linked to Lashkar-e-Tobia detonated seven improvised explosive devices on Mumbai’s Western Railway Line during the evening commute killing 183 people. In September 2006, three improvised explosive devices detonated in a market area of Malegaon, India (approximately 300-400 kilometers northeast of Mumbai). With the exception of the Gateway bombings, terrorist groups have avoided targeting areas were tourists could be collateral casualties. U.S. citizens should exercise vigilance when in the vicinity of government installations, visiting tourist sites, or attending public events in Mumbai. People should be aware of their surroundings and be alert for unattended bags or packages in these areas. Civil Unrest On March 2, 2006, over 250,000 people participated in an anti-American demonstration while President Bush visited India. While the speakers and crowd voiced dissatisfaction with a series of U.S. Government polices, organizers extolled the participants to leave the demonstration peacefully and we received no reports of attacks against U.S. Government facilities or American businesses in the area around the protest site. The Mumbai police professionally handle large demonstrations when they have advanced notification and can adequately plan for the event. The city also experiences spontaneous demonstrations/incidents of violence that can disrupt traffic flow in the city as well as cause damage to property before the Police can respond. The prime example of this phenomenon would be the November 30, 2006, Dalit riots that erupted across Maharashtra. Post-Specific Concerns Floods Flooding during the Monsoon season is an area of great concern in Mumbai. During July and August of 2005, in excess of 1,000 people died during the unprecedented flooding that occurred in the city. Flooding is exacerbated by inadequate drainage, clogged storm sewers, and explosive city growth. The monsoon season which lasts from June through September is the period of greatest concern. The most problematic flooding happens when a high volume rain event coincides with high tide. At this point there is no outlet for the rains and flooding commences. Avian Influenza The Government of India announced three separate outbreaks of the H5N1 avian influenza virus in India in 2006. The first outbreak, announced in mid-February, occurred in and around Navapur, a city located in the Nandurbar district in the west Indian state of Maharashtra (near the borders with the states of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh), including poultry farms in Uchchhal, Gujarat, just a few miles from Navapur across the state border. In mid-March, a second outbreak was reported about 140 km east of Navapur in the Jalgaon district of Maharashtra. A third outbreak was reported in late March around Ichhapur, a town located on the Madhya Pradesh/Maharashtra border about 70 km east of Jalgaon near the city of Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh. In each of these cases, the Government of India ordered the culling of tens of thousands of birds. Certain individuals showing flu-like symptoms were quarantined for observation in connection with these outbreaks, but to date no individual has tested positive for the H5N1 virus. The Government of India announced that the virus was contained in all three of these outbreaks. There were no reported outbreaks in 2007. Police Response Police response in the city of Mumbai is fair.

The Mumbai Police do an effective job managing large scale protests, and are responsive to security requests. For American Citizens needing immediate police assistance please call the Police Helpline by dialing 100 from any phone. Further information on the Mumbai police can be found at www.mumbaipolice.org. If you have been detained by the police please contact the Consulate’s American Citizen Services Unit at 91-22-2363-3611, extensions 4306/4134/4237 or via email at mumbaiacs@state.gov.