AGARTALA, May 13 (TIWN): Despite all out efforts to book the hardcore criminals, altogether 13,680 criminals or wanted in criminal cases are still reported as absconder, according to a latest report filed by the police.According to the report, the courts has issued warrant against 12,243 criminals wanted in criminal cases in 2011 but the investigating agency could not book only 7507 wanted criminals during the period. It means nearly 5000 criminals are still at large.

Likewise, warrant was issued against 13,036 criminals in 2012 and out of which only 7813 have been arrested after lot of efforts by the police.

In the last year, total number of absconders stands at 8315 against 37315 wanted criminals wanted in different criminal cases.

According to police, most of the absconding criminals are sheltered in Bangladesh though the police are in touch with their Bangladeshi counterpart.

Since the border is very close to the state, it becomes easier for the criminals to go and stay in Bangladesh to evade arrest here, said a senior police officer who doesn’t want to be quoted.

“We are taking up the issue with Bangladesh authority at various forums but so far yields no result beside handing over a few extremists”, he pointed out.

The reports also indicate the rate of crime against women has been increasing alarmingly in the state where literacy is much higher than expected level.

The rate of crime against women has been scaled up to 95.3 percent in 2013 from 86.95 percent in 2012 while rate of conviction is showing little improvement- from 14.9 in 2012 to 16.2 percent in 2013.

DGP C Balasubramanian has taken a number of steps to improve the dismal conviction rate which is paying back in turn.