LAHORE: The Punjab police claimed on Friday to have arrested 481 people for misusing loudspeaker, holding provocative speeches and possessing hate material throughout the province.

Police claimed arrests and registration of 667 cases against the suspects in an ongoing crackdown which is the continuation of the National Action Plan announced by the federal government.

According to two news releases, as many as 593 cases have been registered for misusing loudspeaker and 297 arrests have so far been made.

Up to 16 cases have been registered for provocative speeches while 130 people have been arrested. Similarly, 25 people have been arrested on charges of wall chalking. However, the release did not mention as to how many cases have been registered in third category.

In the provincial capital, as many as 58 cases were registered and 29 people were arrested on Friday.

During the crackdown, police also confiscated a large number of books, pamphlets, banners, newspapers, memory cards, DVDs, CDs, USBs, booklets and computers from various districts.

Inspector General of Punjab Police Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera had ordered the fresh crackdown three days ago against all miscreants/anti-state elements involved in instigating the masses through printed hate material, provocative speeches and misuse of loudspeaker.

According to the IGP, such people, who are becoming the facilitators for terrorists, will be dealt strictly and with full force.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2015

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