LAHORE: The ongoing operation against criminal gangs, especially Chotto gang, which was involved in heinous crime in south Punjab (Katcha area), has been successfully completed within a period of three months. Police arrested 77 hardcore criminals of five notorious gangs and recovered heavy weapons and ammunition from the arrested persons. The entire area, particularly Katcha area, has been cleared and secured on permanent grounds for the local residents. According to the Punjab Inspector General spokesperson on Thursday, the departmental report has been compiled up, which revealed that 600 police officials, including 12 teams of Elite Force, participated in this operation that started in April 2016. During the operation, Punjab police also got the assistance of two adjacent districts of Sindh, Kashmor and Ghotki. According to the report, 77 members of five notorious gangs, including Bagga Kosh, Kathoor Ghafoor Kosh, Malawa Jhanga Kosh, Shairbaaz alias Borra Machi and Jorani hang, were caught by the police while conducting ruthless raids on the hideouts of these gangs. The arrested members of these gangs included 19 of Jorani Gang, 51 of Kosh Gang and seven from Borra Machi gang. The weapons and ammunition recovered from these gangs included anti-craft guns, kalashnikovs, guns, rifles, pistols, repeaters and others weapons. Investigation with the arrested gangs is underway. While appreciating the efforts and services of all police officers and those who played their role actively during the operation, Punjab IG Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera officials and martyrs have made this operation successful by sacrificing their valuable lives. He said that these officers are not only the heroes of the department but of the nation as well.