TAXILA: The police here on Sunday claimed to have busted seven gangs of criminals, including car-jackers and robbers, and arrested 22 outlaws.

Addressing a press conference at the Taxila police station, DSP Saleem Khattak said a team led by Inspector Mohammad Khan rounded up suspected criminals and recovered seven vehicles, four motorcycles and other looted items from their possession.

He said most of the arrested men worked for an inter-provincial gang of vehicle snatchers.

He said the police also arrested an alleged criminal, identified as Habib Gul, a resident of Abbottabad, who was wanted in 17 cases of vehicle lifting in Taxila, Abbottabad, Wah Cantonment, Hassanabdal and Kot Najeebullah, Haripur.

The official said four members of the gang - Mohammad Waqas, Mohammad Waseem, Mohammad Mudassir and Naveed Akhter - were also arrested.

The Wah Cantonment police busted a five-member gang involved in robberies. They were identified as Basharat Khan, Jibran Khan, Tanveer Ahmed, Shahid Mehmood and Tahir Mehmood.

A three-member gang, led by Babar Khan and consisting of Asif Nawaz and Mohammad Ameen, was also busted.

He said weapons used in different crimes and the looted items were also recovered from the suspects.

Wah Saddar police arrested Riaz Khan, Abdul Khaliq and Usman Ali, all residents of Kohat, along with Inam Ali and Saifur Rehman.

The police also arrested Kashif on the charge of lifting motorcycles and recovered stolen bikes from his possession.

The DSP said most of the suspected criminals belonged to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and lived in rented houses in different parts of Taxila city.

He said keeping in view the prevailing situation, security had further been beefed up in Taxila and Wah. He asked the citizens to help the police in curbing crimes.

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2014