Lahore Police on Sunday claimed to have caught 353 criminal gangs involved in heinous crimes, and arrested 1,143 hardened criminals, besides tracing 2,016 cases against them. The police also claimed to have recovered stolen property worth Rs 214 million during five months of the current year. More than 16, 182 proclaimed offenders and court absconders were arrested.
This was disclosed in a high-level meeting held under the chairmanship of Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Ahmad Raza Tahir at his office. Tahir was informed that during the same period, Lahore Police busted 353 criminal gangs involved in heinous crimes, and apprehended 1,143 hardened criminals during the last five months, whereas 2,016 cases were traced including; four cases of murder, one kidnapping case, nice cases of robbery cum murder, 16 cases of dacoity, 770 cases of robbery, 913 cases of theft and burglary and 303 miscellaneous cases.
The police recovered stolen property worth more than Rs 214 million from the possession of criminals including; more than Rs 16 million in cash, 146 cars, 350 motorcycles, 884 mobile phones, 14 tolas of gold ornaments, seven wagons, four pick-ups, 15 carry dubbas, 12 rikshaws, one Mazda truck, five tractors and other valuables. Police also arrested 9,838 proclaimed offenders in this period, who were wanted in 302 cases of murder, 229 cases of attempted murder, 314 cases of dacoity, 1,086 cases of theft, 724 cases of robbery and 7,183 other cases.
Lahore Police registered 2,375 cases and arrested 2,384 culprits during the campaign against illegal weapons and recovered 21 Kalashnikovs, 115 rifles, 401 guns, 2,066 pistols, 166 revolvers, 29 carbines, nine mouzers, 43 daggers, 254 magazines and more than 98, 700 bullets. During the action against drug sellers, 4,476 culprits were arrested and 93 kg heroine, 606 kg charas, nine kg opium, 264 kg hashish, 316 intoxicating pills, 424 injections and 37,801 bottles of liquor were recovered from the possession of criminals.
Moreover, 3,416 gamblers were arrested and Rs 4.75 million were recovered from their possession. Talking on the occasion, Tahir said Lahore Police officers and jawans were making strenuous efforts to eradicate crime from the provincial metropolis. He added that as a result of solid strategy and continuous efforts, there had been a marked decrease in the crime rate. Tahir also directed that priority-based steps be taken against drug peddling and for the elimination of other heinous crimes from the city.