Islamabad police claim arresting 904 suspects during January

Authorities say they have recovered stolen items worth Rs67.8m

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Police on Sunday claimed to have arrested 904 suspected criminals during January, recovering stolen items worth more than Rs67.8 million from them, a police spokesperson said.

The police official, in a statement issued on Sunday, said that on the directives of Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) Aamir Zulfiqar, a crackdown was launched against anti-social elements in the city.

Owing to these efforts, 42 cases of theft were traced and 69 suspects were arrested apart from the recovery of stolen items worth Rs7.6 million from them.

Police also nabbed 74 suspects allegedly involved in 52 cases of street crime and theft and recovered stolen goods worth Rs16.4 million from them.

Moreover, as many as 57 suspects were held for their alleged involvement in car and motorbike theft, tampering of vehicles. Police recovered 30 cars and 19 motorbikes which had been stolen from various areas of the city. Jewellery and mobile phones were also recovered from the possession of these men.

During the same period, police also arrested 195 proclaimed offenders while 211 people were held for their alleged involvement in bootlegging and drug peddling activities.

A total of 88.136 kilogrammes (kgs) of hashish, 8.024kgs of heroin, 1.31kgs of opium, 691 grammes (g) ice, 10g of cocaine and 1,201 bottles of wine were recovered from them.

Further, the Islamabad Police launched a special crackdown against those involved in supplying drugs at educational institutions and arrested six suspects in four cases. A total of 5.15ikgs of hashish and 325g of heroin were allegedly recovered from their possession.

Moreover, a total of 93 suspects were held for allegedly carrying illegal weapons. Police claimed they had recovered three Kalashnikovs, 77 pistols and 801 bullets from their possession.

January also saw the police solve two murder cases, resulting in the arrest of two suspects involved in these cases.

Police also busted 34 gamblers and recovered stake money and other items from them. A special campaign was launched against professional alms seekers in the federal capital which saw the police arrest 943 beggars in January.

Further, 30 habitual criminals were arrested during the same period while 20 suspects were held red-handed while planning a robbery.

The police also arrested three foreigners under the illegal alien act for living illegally in the country.

Moreover, seven suspects were nabbed for allegedly firing into the air. A further 10 suspects were arrested for smoking sheesha.

Another suspect was apprehended carrying fake currency worth Rs58,000.

Cases have been registered against these suspects at various police stations and further investigation is underway from them. SSP Islamabad Waqaruddin Syed has urged citizens to inform the social media cell of Islamabad police in case of any illegal activity around them. He stated that criminal activities will not be tolerated and those involved in such acts would have to face action as per law.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4^th, 2019.