GUJRAT: Police claimed to have arrested four members of an inter-province gang of robbers wanted in a robbery of Rs20 million at a Gujrat-based fan manufacturing unit and recovered Rs3 million of the loot, while they said rest of the members were being tracked by a special police team.

District Police Officer Rai Ijaz Ahmed told reporters at a news conference police had traced the 13 members of the robbers gang that had looted electric fans, raw material and other valuables from a manufacturing unit situated along G.T. Road near Deona Mandi late on Aug 17.

He claimed four of the main accused belonging to Waziristan had been arrested and police recovered looted goods worth Rs3 million from them. Raids were being conducted in Peshawar and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for the arrest of the remaining suspects, he added.

He further said they were in contact with the KP police for the arrest of the remaining culprits, especially two of them who belonged to Peshawar, as most of the looted goods were said to be in their possession.

COMPENSATION: The district government on Wednesday started distribution of financial assistance of Rs25,000 to flood-affected people on behalf of the Punjab government at Shahbazpur and Qasimabad villages.

Adviser to the Chief Minister Zaeem Qadri and DCO Liaquat Ali Chattha along with local lawmakers monitored the disbursement process at both points.

As many as 240 flood-affected families were given Rs25,000 each as announced by the provincial government.

The distribution process will continue till Oct 5 and MNA Hamza Shahbaz is likely to reach Gujrat on Thursday (today) to oversee the process. Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is also likely to pay a surprise visit here today, according to official sources.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd , 2014