Statistics available with the police reveal dismal conviction rate in murder and rape cases, with most accused either walking free or remaining untraceable.

Data reveals that most cases heard by courts for crimes like rape and murder result in the accused being acquitted. According to official figures, of the 930 rape cases heard by courts from 2007 to 2011, only 169 have resulted in conviction while 383 cases have been dismissed with the accused being acquitted. As many as 308 of the 930 cases are still being heard, while 70 have been closed with either the accused dying before the case came to trial or remaining untraceable.

Of the 1,042 murder cases heard by courts in the same period, only 196 have resulted in conviction, with 291 acquittals. As many as 424 cases are still at the trial stage, while in 131 cases the accused has either died or cannot be traced by the police.

While most acquittals for murder cases took place in 2007, 2008 saw the most number of rape accused being let off. Of the 217 rape cases heard by courts, only 44 resulted in convictions while in 116 cases the accused were acquitted.

Senior officers said the conviction rate is dismal and in many cases, the court has observed that shoddy police work has resulted in the accused being let off without any punishment. “There have been numerous instances of accused being acquitted because of errors on the part of the investigating officer who, at times, did not submit crucial evidence and at other times could not get incriminating evidence against an accused. The numbers show that a lot needs to be done in terms of ensuring convictions,” said an officer who did not wish to be named.