Crime surge plagues Gujranwala

The city has experienced a surge in crime, as over 15,000 incidents of theft and robbery were reported in one year, with citizens were deprived of cash, vehicles and other valuables worth over a total of Rs600 million. During one year, 7,163 motorcycles were stolen and over 216 people were killed over family enmity, disputes and other incidents. Of these incidents, 41 were blind murders, while 41 women and 133 children were sexually assaulted during the same period.

Police arrested over 1,000 suspects and 8,000 wanted criminals, including 433 suspected members of various criminal gangs.

According to statistics, the crime rate has increased by 33 percent in the past year. A total of 40,480 FIRs were registered, from which 788 cases were disposed and challans of 17,173 cases were submitted with the courts. In other crime statistics, 216 people were killed, including a police constable, while others were killed over enmity, land disputes and robbery among other motives. A total of 41 of those killed were blind murders.

Similarly, 15,893 cases of theft, robbery and burglary were registered, including 10 cases of home robbery, 65 cases of robbery in markets, 7,217 cases of snatching by street criminals, 6 cases of car theft, 1,288 cases of motorcycle theft and 13 cases of tractor and other vehicle theft. Similarly, 52 cars, 6m000 motorcycles and 383 other vehicles were stolen in these incidents. Altogether, citizens lost valuables totaling over Rs600 million, including cash, jewelry, vehicles, foreign currency and other items.

Additionally, 4 cases of terrorism, 8 cases of kidnapping and 12 cases of extortion were also reported, whle 256 cases of kidnapping of children and girls were registered. Similarly, 41 women and girls were raped and 133 children were sexually abused.

In other developments, all 313 suspects of rape were arrested and presented in court with challans, while over 80 people accused of murder were traced and arrested. Similarly, 23 suspects of attempted murder who had fled abroad were extradited from other countries. Similarly, 2.2 tons of narcotics, including opium, hashish, ice, cocaine and others were seized, while 15,800 litres of alcohol were also recovered.

Moreover, 2,255 cases of illegal weapons were registered and 2,500 weapons were recovered. CPO Rana Ayaz Salim said that the AVLS system was implemented to prevent car and motorcycle theft, in which the teams from the CIA and police stations are working jointly. All SPs, DSPs, SHOs and investigators on remaining cases have been instructed to expedite their efforts.

CPO Rana Ayaz Salim said that police registered all cases and in a crackdown, 208 gangs were busted by the CIA, while the remanining police stations caught a total of 433 gangs, during which 1,000 suspects and 8,000 proclaimed offenders and wanted criminals  were arrested and valuables worth Rs480 million were recovered.