Preventive measures under DCP Lohit Matani reduce violent and property crimes by over 50% in first half of 2025
Nagpur: A focused crackdown on criminals and preventive policing under Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Lohit Matani has led to a remarkable decline in criminal cases in Zone 1 of Nagpur city. The zone, which comprises police stations at Wadi, MIDC, Hingna, Pratapnagar, Bajajnagar, and Sonegaon, has recorded a significant reduction in serious offences during the first half of 2025, compared to the same period last year.
Between January and June 2024, a total of 480 cases related to crimes against human life and property were registered in Zone 1. In comparison, only 348 such cases were reported during January to June 2025, reflecting a drop of more than 27%. In certain key categories, the decline is even more dramatic — clearly underscoring the effectiveness of strategic policing.
In terms of homicide, the number of murder cases came down from 8 in 2024 to 4 in 2025. Attempt to murder cases saw a drop from 8 to 3, while robbery cases reduced to zero from 4 in the previous year. Armed theft (jabri chori) was halved from 12 to 6 cases, and chain snatching incidents, which stood at 3 in 2024, were completely eliminated in 2025.
Property-related crimes too showed considerable improvement. House break-ins (gharphodi) went down marginally from 50 to 48, while general theft cases dropped from 199 to 154. Two-wheeler theft, one of the most common urban crimes, reduced significantly from 134 to 92 cases. Kidnapping cases declined from 32 to 23, and rape cases dropped from 30 to 18 in the comparative period.
Robust Preventive Action Behind Crime Control:
DCP Lohit Matani, since taking charge, initiated an aggressive anti-crime campaign focused on repeat and high-risk offenders. Preventive actions included the externment of 120 criminals from Nagpur city and rural limits for two years, a first-of-its-kind initiative on such a large scale. Furthermore, five notorious offenders were booked under the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities (MPDA) Act, a move that had a strong deterrent effect.
These actions played a critical role in ensuring peaceful conduct of the 2024 Assembly Elections and maintaining law and order during major religious festivals. The result is a visibly safer environment in Zone 1 with fewer reported cases and enhanced public confidence in policing.
Community Engagement for Long-Term Impact:
Alongside enforcement, the police also ramped up awareness initiatives under the ‘Police Kaka’ and ‘Police Didi’ programs, visiting schools and colleges daily. These sessions cover critical topics like good touch and bad touch, sexual education for adolescents, and the negative effects of addiction, aiming to empower young citizens and prevent juvenile crime.
This combined strategy — blending strong enforcement with meaningful community outreach — has been executed under the supervision of Commissioner of Police, Nagpur City, and guided by DCP Lohit Matani. It reflects a successful model of modern policing where crime prevention, public education, and targeted action work hand-in-hand to deliver real results on the ground.
