46 armed men arrested, sophisticated weapons seized

Police say operation against armed groups of private housing societies to continue

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi police with the help of the elite force carried out a grand search operation in different areas of Chakri and Chauntra areas and arrested 46 suspects and seized a large number of sophisticated weapons from them.

In Chakri and Chauntra police limits, private housing societies have hired mercenaries equipped with sophisticated weapons, who frequently carry out targeted killings over land disputes.

Rawalpindi police said that search operations were also under way to tighten the noose around the elements involved in target killings

A heavy contingent of Rawalpindi police assisted by elite commandos conducted the search operation in Bagra Mujahid, Khanghar, Sangral, Sihal, Chachh Rawan and Rajar areas and arrested a total of 46 suspects from whom a large number of modern weapons and ammunition including 20 Kalashnikov rifles, one LMG, two 12-bore rifles, three rifles M4 and two 30-bore pistols and a large quantity of ammunition were recovered. The police said that cases were being registered against the accused at Chakri and Chauntra police stations.

Police sources told The Express Tribune that the armed conflict in the Saddar division has increased over the last few years as compared to the three divisions of the district. Dozens of armed clashes have been reported in the Saddar division during the last one year, the sources said adding that these clashes claimed several lives besides inflicting damage to the property.

According to the sources, during the investigation of different armed conflicts, it transpired that several real estate tycoons have their armed wings.

According to the police, not only do these armed wings have a large number of prohibited modern weapons, but a few police officers were also patronising these groups.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 29^th, 2022.