Crackdown: 12 proclaimed offenders rounded up in search op

Gang of extortionists busted by Kotwali police.

PESHAWAR:

Police arrested at least 22 suspects, including five proclaimed offenders, in a search operation in the jurisdiction of Daudzai police station on Saturday.

The operation was conducted in Nahaqi, Naguman, Shah Alam, Pyari Bala, Pyari Payan and neighbouring villages. Police also seized five pistols, 80 cartridges and impounded five unregistered motorcycles.

“The operation was aimed at establishing the writ of the law-enforcement agencies and raiding the hideouts of anti-social elements,” said a police official. All the men who had been arrested had been booked. Several vehicles were also checked during the operation but were later cleared.

Separately, police busted a gang of extortionists and arrested all five members in Kotwali. Police said one of the accused was from Peshawar, two from Bajaur Agency and two from Mohmand Agency.

“There are two FIRs filed against the gang members in Peshawar and Mardan and they had been active in the area for the past few years, collecting extortion from the wealthy,” said an official of Kotwali police station. He described the arrests as an important breakthrough.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2014.