GUJRANWALA, March 4: In some 161 dacoity and robbery incidents during the month of February, bandits decamped with cash, jewellery, cell phones, vehicles, bikes and other valuables worth over Rs24 million, showing a rise in the crime graph.

This was revealed in a statistical data collected by Dawn here on Saturday.

According to the report, outlaws snatched Rs12.5 million in cash collectively besides 509 tolas of gold, 37 motorcycles and scores of cars and trucks during the period. In addition, bandits also deprived people of around 105 mobile phones.

At least 15 people, including four women, were murdered while 14 others were kidnapped.

The report also revealed that as many as 21 cases of dacoity and robbery were registered in Sabzi Mandi, 15 in Peoples Colony, 14 in Sadar, 19 in Satellite Town, four in Ferozewala, 12 in Civil Lines, 16 in Model Town, seven in Aroop and as many in Baghbanpura.

While 30 motorcycles and nine cars were snatched or stolen in the city division during the period. A senior police officer said that the city circle had arrested around a dozen gangs of dacoits and robbers and recovered a huge quantity of looted goods and illicit arms from their possession.

TWO SHOT DEAD: Two persons were shot dead on Saturday by their rivals over an old enmity in Rasul Nagar in Wazirabad.