GUJRAT: The district police have been concealing the actual number of proclaimed offenders, court absconders and other criminals in their jurisdiction, showing the figure at least five times less than what it is found to be in a recent record check.

According to the police record, around a month ago the number of such outlaws was not more than 1,000. However, the present DPO, Rai Ijaz Ahmed, told Dawn he recently launched an exercise to ascertain the number of these outlaws and was shocked to find the actual figure so far was around 5,000 and counting.

The DPO said he had decided to continue with the exercise and ordered his subordinates to verify the record of cases registered during the last 10 to 15 years in different police stations. He apprehended that further verification of police record might put the number of these outlaws at 8,000 or so which was a matter of concern.

Giving reasons for such a high number of POs and court absconders, he said old rivalries among various influential groups was a major cause of such an alarming situation. The groups involved in bloody feuds often harbour criminals for their protection and to terrorise or eliminate rivals.

The DPO said dispute resolution between the parties to old feuds was need of the hour and he had planned to involve politicians and other influential people to hold meetings with the rivals in this connection.