DCP Lohit Matani leads city’s most significant drop in violent and property crimes in first half of 2025
Nagpur: In a powerful demonstration of targeted policing, Zone 1 of Nagpur Police Commissionerate has recorded a sharp decline in both violent and property crimes during the first half of 2025. Under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Lohit Matani, the zone implemented a series of strategic crackdowns and preventive measures that led to a 27% reduction in total registered crimes compared to the same period in 2024.
Zone 1 includes police stations in Wadi, MIDC, Hingna, Pratapnagar, Bajajnagar, and Sonegaon. Between January and June 2024, these six police stations registered 480 criminal cases involving murder, theft, robbery, kidnapping, and sexual offences. The same period in 2025 saw only 348 cases, signaling a clear success in curbing repeat offences and bringing stability to high-risk areas.
A detailed analysis of the data shows striking improvements. Murder cases were halved from 8 to 4, while attempt to murder cases dropped from 8 to 3. Notably, robbery cases fell to zero, down from 4 the previous year. Armed thefts (jabri chori) decreased from 12 to 6, and chain snatching, which recorded three cases last year, was completely eliminated.
Property-related crimes saw significant reductions too. General thefts fell from 199 to 154, motorcycle thefts dropped from 134 to 92, and kidnapping cases decreased from 32 to 23. Rape cases also declined, from 30 in 2024 to 18 in 2025. Only house break-ins saw a marginal reduction, from 50 to 48.
DCP Matani attributed this turnaround to intensive preventive action targeting habitual and high-profile offenders. In an unprecedented move, 120 criminals were externed (haddpar) from both city and rural Nagpur limits for a period of two years. Additionally, five repeat offenders were booked under the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities (MPDA) Act, a strict preventive measure rarely used at this scale in the city.
These efforts also contributed to the peaceful conduct of the 2024 Assembly Elections and ensured law and order during major religious festivals. DCP Matani said that strict monitoring and swift legal action helped keep criminals off the streets and significantly reduced fear among residents.
Complementing the enforcement campaign, the police also strengthened their community outreach programs. Through the ‘Police Kaka’ and ‘Police Didi’ initiatives, officers regularly visited schools and colleges to educate students on good touch and bad touch, adolescent sexual awareness, and the harmful effects of substance abuse. These sessions aimed to empower youth with knowledge and prevent early involvement in criminal behavior.
All actions were carried out under the guidance of the Commissioner of Police, Nagpur City, with DCP Lohit Matani leading Zone 1’s multi-layered approach to crime prevention. The zone now serves as a model of effective policing, demonstrating how data-driven enforcement and social engagement can work together to ensure safer neighborhoods.
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