Daily Times

LAHORE: During the first four months of the year, 3,332 heinous cases have been registered in Bahawalpur region, which is short by 1,104 in numbers than that of the first four months of previous years. A total of 4,152 out of the 9,757 accused were arrested and taken to the court during the said period.

Talking to Daily Times, Bahawalpur Regional Police Officer Dr Ehsan Sadiq said eradication of crime is the foremost duty of police, adding that absconders, responsible to cause harm to the lives and properties of citizens, do not deserve any concession.

In order to build the department’s credibility among masses, he said, the police must bring to book hardcore criminals and recover the looted money of innocent citizens. Dr Ehsan Sadiq added that the DPOs have been directed to register FIRs soon after filing of reports, and if any police officer shows negligence in this regard, he/she would be punished severely by the department.

The documents available with this scribe showed that 677 FIRs were cancelled in the region due to the falseness. In 116 cases of attempt of murder, 219 out of 498 accused were arrested while 9 cases of this kind were cancelled. In 393 cases of hurt, 1,116 out of 1,731 accused were arrested and 22 false cases were cancelled.

In 434 cases of kidnapping/abduction, 393 out of 1,116 accused were arrested while 175 false cases were cancelled. In three cases of kidnapping for ransom, one out of 10 accused was arrested while two accused were killed in a police encounter during recovery of the kidnapped. In 129 cases of rape, 109 out of 224 accused were arrested while 29 false cases were cancelled. In two cases of gang rape, four out of seven accused were challaned to court. In 789 cases of illegal arms, 794 accused were arrested while seven grenades, 27 kalashnikovs, 42 riffels, 120 guns, 484 revolvers/pistols, 101 handmade pistols (carbine) and 20 knives were recovered from these criminals. In 1,174 cases of narcotics, 1,233 out of 1,264 accused were arrested and 4 kg opium, 165 kg chars, 500 grams heroine, 20,122 bottles of liquor, 13,034 litres of poisoned liquor, 250 kg bhang and 134 working stills were recovered. A total of 133 hardcore criminals of robbery of 35 different gangs were arrested from their confessions while 104 old and 101 new cases were traced besides a recovery of Rs 33 millions from their custody.

During the first four months of 2016, 10 police encounter occurred in which 30 criminals were killed. During the said period, some 9,100 absconders of category A and B were also challaned to court.