March 16, 2008	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 7, 1429

GUJRANWALA, March 15: A local court on Saturday sent 92 people, who were arrested by police for violating a ban on kite flying, to jail on judicial remand and bailed out another 62.

Basant was celebrated in Gujranwala on Friday.

On this occasion the city police arrested more than 150 people, including those dealing in kites and metal wire and those who resorted to aerial firing on Thursday night and Friday, and registered cases against them under various laws. Those who were bailed out by the court were told to submit surety bonds worth Rs50,000 each.

POLICE CLAIM: The city police claimed on Saturday to have busted 58 robber gangs and 15 gangs of street criminals.

Police also seized looted goods and arms from the street criminals involved in 138 incidents during a campaign launched 15 days ago, City Police Officer Khadim Hussain Bhatti told a news conference at his office. He said the police arrested a gang which kidnapped a man from Ghakkar Town and released him after extorting Rs500,000 ransom from him. He said nine rifles, three guns, 51 pistols, 52 cell phones, vehicles and the ransom money had been seized from these criminals.

LAWYERS’ CAMP: Lawyers marked the last day of the Black Flag Week with a hunger strike camp and a rally here on Saturday.

Local lawyers carrying black flags gathered at the bar room, took out a rally and marched through various roads of the city. Led by bar president Malik Shaukat Ali, the protesting lawyers demanded that President Pervez Musharraf step down immediately or be ready to see people marching on Army House.