AJK crime review: Over 200 booked for unlicensed arms

MUZAFFARABAD: At least 70 people were murdered, 17 kidnapped and four persons were taken hostage for ransom across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) during 2015. According to numbers released by the AJK Police on Sunday, more than 50 robberies, 231 burglaries, 221 theft cases and three dacoity incidents were registered by police stations in all 10 districts. Some 354 people were hurt in different feuds while 398 riots were reported in the area during the year. The police also registered 14 rape cases and 234 persons were booked for possessing unlicensed arms. The police also registered 657 narcotics cases last year. The statement did not say investigation in how many cases has been completed and how many are still open.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2016.