GUJRANWALA, July 5: As many as 143 of the alleged robbers, gamblers, traffickers and kidnappers, who had recently been arrested in a campaign launched throughout the region by the regional police officer, have been got released by some influential people, it is learnt.

RPO Zulfiqar Ali Cheema, immediately after taking charge two months ago, directed all SHOs to launch a special campaign against culprits. In keeping with the PML-N government instructions, he reshuffled several SHOs and asked many others to improve their performance. The RPO has ordered an inquiry and directed the police officials to re-arrest the culprits.

Sources told Dawn that some department officials, in collusion with influential people, had launched a vilification campaign against the RPO and recently aired rumour that he had been transferred. — Correspondent