KOHAT, Dec 30: The crime situation showed slight improvement as compared to previous years in the Kohat district which is surrounded by tribal areas, including the gun-manufacturing town of Darra Adam Khel.

The smuggling of arms and drugs from Darra Adam Khel continued as usual as only a handful of smugglers had been arrested by the law enforcement agencies who also seized drugs.

The sectarian clashes in Hangu and the Kurram Agency and the army’s hunt for Osama bin Laden and the arrest of hundreds of Al-Qaeda members who sneaked into Pakistan were the main events during the year.

The sectarian clashes, in which more than 200 people lost their lives and property worth millions of rupees was destroyed, still remain unresolved between the rivals sects and efforts were on for an amicable and permanent solution.

During 2001, about 117 people were murdered, seven women and 13 men were kidnapped for ransom, whereas the local police in a special campaigns against arms and proclaimed offenders recovered huge quantity of weapons and arrested more than 200 fugitives.

Similarly, five dacoities were committed, 28 robberies were reported with 38 cases of theft. Most of the people preferred not to report the crime to the police to avoid harassment.

In all, 3,914 criminal cases were registered by the police against the criminals.