KASUR, June 28: The district police claimed to have smashed five gangs involved in more than 100 cases of heinous crimes and recovered from their possession illegal weapons, booty and cell phone sets worth Rs3.6 million.

DPO Syed Ahmad Mobeen told journalists that in the wake of increase in crimes at Chunian, Pattoki and Mustafabad during the last two weeks, he had formed three raiding teams, headed by DSP (city) Attiq Sindhu, DSP (Saddar) Tahir Nawaz Warriach and the Pattoki DSP.

The notorious Rajee gang was busted from Pattoki after an encounter with the police. Among those arrested were ring leader Riaz alias Rajee and three of his accomplices — Mukhtar, Abdul Hayee and M. Aslam. The gang was also wanted in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Okara, Faisalabad and Sahiwal, besides Kasur.

Another police team arrested the ring leader of notorious Sarwari gang and his four accomplices. Two others made good their escape.

Tariq, Mahmood Ahmad and Zafar Iqbal of Tariq gang were held with booty and another gang was busted after an encounter in Chunian.

The Saddar DSP-led team arrested Sabir, the ring leader, and his accomplices in an encounter in Mustabad just the other day. Two of their aides fled, the DPO said.