While the ruling BJP claims to have brought a respite from the ‘‘rule of terror unleashed by the previous Ajit Jogi government’’, figures available with the state government speak otherwise.According to figures released by the BJP government, at least two rapes anmd two murders are reported every 24 hours, and 107 robberies have occurred in less than a year. The figures are more alarming in the tribal areas of the state which are reeling under Naxalite violence. It may be recalled that a sitting MP, Ingrid McLeod, was attacked recently in Jashpur. Topping the list of districts worst affected by crime are the tribal-domiated Sarguja and Kanker with 96 murder cases followed by Raipur with 71.Former chief minister Ajit Jogi says: ‘‘The boot is on the other foot now’’.However, State Home Minister Brij Mohan Aggarwal, who has been under pressure from both his own partymen and the Opposition, tries to put up a brave front and pass the buck on the previous government. ‘‘We inherited an ailing system and a demoralised force,’’ he says. ‘‘The Raman Singh government has established the rule of law.’’ But figures at the Police Headquarters tell a different story. From December 7, 2003, the day Raman Singh took over as CM till November 2, 2004, there have been 855 murders and 863 rape cases registered at different police stations. More than 700 cases of atrocities against Dalits and tribals, and 174 cases of abductions have been registered in the same period.
