SIALKOT, May 4: More standing wheat crop on over 50 acres was gutted late Friday night in mortar shelling by Indian troops in the Sialkot working boundary’s Bajwat sector.

Sources said Chenab Rangers on Saturday thwarted two more major Indian attempts of fencing in the working boundary’s Bajwat and Jammu-Saamba sectors. Five Indian armymen were injured seriously while another big ammunition vehicle and two defensive pillars were also destroyed.

Meanwhile, the Indian security forces continued mortar shelling on villages in the working boundary’s Chhumb Joriyaan (Gujrat), Bajwat, Charwa, Bajragarhi, Harpal, Chaprar, Sucheetgarh, Jammu, Saamba, Akhnoor, Zafarwal, Shakargarh-Narowal sectors. The shelling badly damaged four houses in villages.

ARRESTED: During the preliminary investigation, the arrested smugglers of an inter-provincial gang confessed to have close ties with the drug pushers of Sialkot, Daska and Pasrur.

The CIA police on Saturday raided the outhouse of a local drug pusher, Muhammad Ikram Butt, at Satrah (Daska) and arrested him red-handed while selling narcotics. They also recovered 25 kilogramme charas from his possession.

District Nazim Mian Naeem Javed had caught three drug-traffickers with 60 kilogramme charas and 1.5 kilogramme opium on Friday.

Talking to newsmen, SSP Muhammad Tahir said the district police had arrested five inter-district gangs of dacoits, robbers and motorcycle snatchers.

Saddar police, he said, had arrested four bike snatchers Zulfiqar alias Bhutto, Iftikhar alias Khara, Muhammad Rafiq, Shams and recovered 12 motorcycles from their possession.

Naikapura police also arrested two-member, including ring leader Mussadaq alias Kuku, of an inter-provincial gang of dacoits. They were wanted by Punjab police in 56 dacoity and six murder cases, he said.

Similarly, he said the Badiana police had arrested three dacoits Sajjad, Amjad and Iftikhar and recovered a looted Pajero (AJK-608) and four motorcycles. A huge quantity of illicit arms and stolen valuables worth millions of rupees were also recovered, the SSP added.

SPECIAL GRANT: The Punjab government has released Rs25 million special grant for the early construction of additional classrooms and provision of more facilities in primary and middle schools in the Sialkot district.

This was stated by Sialkot DCO Capt Zahid Saeed (retired) while talking to newsmen here on Saturday.

He said that boundary walls and toilets would also be constructed in girls elementary and high schools in the district.

In the next phase, all shelterless schools would be provided buildings, he concluded.

SEATS FOR MINORITIES: Seats for minorities should also be reserved and increased in the assemblies.

This was stated by Human Development Centre director father Bonnie Mendes in a press release issued here on Saturday.

He said that minorities should also be given representation in the senate.

Opinion

Editorial

Rigging claims
Updated 04 May, 2024

Rigging claims

The PTI’s allegations are not new; most elections in Pakistan have been controversial, and it is almost a given that results will be challenged by the losing side.
Gaza’s wasteland
04 May, 2024

Gaza’s wasteland

SINCE the start of hostilities on Oct 7, Israel has put in ceaseless efforts to depopulate Gaza, and make the Strip...
Housing scams
04 May, 2024

Housing scams

THE story of illegal housing schemes in Punjab is the story of greed, corruption and plunder. Major players in these...
Under siege
Updated 03 May, 2024

Under siege

Whether through direct censorship, withholding advertising, harassment or violence, the press in Pakistan navigates a hazardous terrain.
Meddlesome ways
03 May, 2024

Meddlesome ways

AFTER this week’s proceedings in the so-called ‘meddling case’, it appears that the majority of judges...
Mass transit mess
03 May, 2024

Mass transit mess

THAT Karachi — one of the world’s largest megacities — does not have a mass transit system worth the name is ...