'High-ranking Bihar police officer's comment about hiring hitmen for fast financial gain ignites public outcry due to crime increase'
In a controversial statement that has sparked both debate and outrage, a senior Bihar police officer, ADG (law and order) Kundan Krishnan, has attributed the recent surge in crime in the state to seasonal unemployment among agricultural laborers. Specifically, Krishnan pointed to the lean period from April to June when there is no cropping season and many farmhands remain jobless, leading to increased land-related conflicts and even contract killings among the youth seeking quick money.
Krishnan defended his remarks, stating that they are backed by data and offered to provide figures showing a spike in violent crimes during this specific agricultural lean season. The state's Director General of Police, Vinay Kumar, also supported this view, noting that crimes like murders, robberies, and dacoities exhibit a consistent rise in the months following harvesting (May to July), attributing this to "people having more idle time" and resulting in intensified disputes.
However, these claims have met significant public and political backlash, with critics accusing the officer and the government of using this explanation as a way to deflect from failures in managing law and order. The Congress party condemned the remarks, viewing them as an excuse for poor governance.
Regarding independent evidence, while the police officials cite crime data correlating with agricultural seasons, there is limited publicly available, peer-reviewed research confirming a causal relationship between seasonal unemployment and increased crime in Bihar. The officers' claims rely primarily on internal crime statistics and observations rather than comprehensive academic studies.
In a recent interaction with PTI, Krishnan maintained his stance, reiterating that his comments are backed by data and that he will provide it to support his claims. The controversy, however, continues to rage on social media, with many people accusing the officer of trying to make excuses for failure to control law and order.
| Aspect | Details | |------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Police claim | Seasonal unemployment of farm laborers (April-June) causes crime surge (land clashes, contract killings). | | Data backing | Police officers claim internal crime data supports a spike in violent crimes during lean agricultural months. | | Opposition reaction | Public and political outrage accusing defense of governance failure. | | Independent academic evidence| Limited or not publicly presented; mainly internal police data cited. |
The police officials in Bihar, namely ADG (law and order) Kundan Krishnan and the Director General of Police, Vinay Kumar, have attributed the rise in crime to seasonal unemployment among agricultural laborers, particularly during the lean period from April to June. Their claims, however, have been met with significant criticism, as the Congress party views these comments as an excuse for poor governance, and there is a lack of substantial independent academic evidence confirming a causal relationship between seasonal unemployment and increased crime in Bihar.
