QURGHON TEPPA, July 26, 2010, Asia-Plus -- In January-June this year, 1,542 crimes have been registered in Khatlon province, which is 18 cases more than in the same period last year, the Khatlon police directorate chief Abdurahmon Buzmakov said.

According to him, 1,073 crimes have been registered by the criminal investigation department, and 875 of those crimes have been solved to this day.

The crime detection rate for the report period was 92 percent and only 72 crimes have still remained unsolved, Buzmakov said.

He noted that 116 crimes have been committed by women over the same six-month period.  88 women have been arrested on suspicion of having been involved in two murders, two cases of drug trafficking, two cases of buying and selling of minors, five cases of hooliganism and some other crimes.

Buzmakov added that growth in prostitution in the area evoked serious concern.  “The number of prostitutes is increasing in the province from year to year,” the Khatlon police chief said.