SHEIKHUPURA, Feb 1: The district police claimed to have booked 6,265 proclaimed offenders, including 2,569 court absconders, in 2004. In a press briefing here on Tuesday, DPO Shahid Iqbal said more than 12,000 cases were filed with 25 police stations , including 411 murder cases, 388 murder attempt, 143 dacoities, 284 robberies, 221 vehicle snatching, 1,553 thefts, 315 cattle lifting, 3,497 illegal weapons and 926 cases of drug trafficking.

Mr Iqbal said the Sheikhupura police nabbed 70 gangs, consisting of 298 members and recovered valuables amounting to Rs40 million from their possession. The district police officer said 11 POs were killed in encounters along with two staffers. He said the police also arrested a terrorist and recovered 10 bombs, as many detonators and explosive material from his possession.

The police recovered huge quantity of contraband and sophisticated weapons from criminals, including six-kg heroin, 2,061kg hashish, 35.5kg opium, 4,500 bottles of liquor, 45 kalashnikovs, 703 rifles, 1,498 revolvers, 842 guns, 408 carbines and scores of bullets and cartridges.