PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police have prepared lists of 1,116 individuals involved in cases of land grabbing, peddling methamphetamine and usury across the province.

The figures have been compiled on the directives of police chief Dr Mohammad Naeem issued in September.

The data shows that of 1,116, 368 individuals are said to be involved in land grabbing, 401 in peddling meth and 347 were extorting general public through usury. During the period from Sept 16 to Oct 31, police in all districts identified 1,483 accused involved in the mentioned crimes, and prepared personal files of 1,116 individuals.

As per the data, a list of 293 people had been prepared to be targeted in preventive action, while the authorities had by Oct 31 taken preventive action against 247 people across the province.

Breakdown of district-wise registration of cases and pending investigations shows that thus far a total of 168 land grabbers have either been arrested or booked. Provincial capital tops the list where a total of 53 land grabbers have either been arrested or booked.

During the action against meth, 258 people have either been arrested or booked. Mardan district tops the list of anti-meth dealers’ campaign where 92 persons have been arrested and 89 fresh cases registered. Seven cases were registered against meth paddlers in the provincial capital.

Breakdown of district-wise usury cases shows that Mardan district topped the list where action was taken against the loan sharks.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2019