QUETTA, Nov 28: Police claimed to have busted some criminal gangs allegedly involved in target killing, kidnapping for ransom, robbery, car and motorcycle snatching and other heinous crimes.

Quetta police's DIG operations Hamid Shakeel and SSP investigation Wazir Khan Nasar told newsmen on Sunday that there were about 78 criminal gangs active in the provincial metropolis. They said the gangs were enjoying the support of some influential people.

They said police arrested two men, Mohammad Suleman Zehri and Sikandar, a few days ago and found 668kg of explosive material and some weapons in their possession.

During interrogation the arrested men provided information about their 11 accomplices who were allegedly involved in subversion activities in Quetta, Kalat, Khuzdar and Mastung, the police officers said, adding that efforts were being made for the arrest of their accomplices.

They said police after finding explosive material in a rickshaw arrested its owner.

They said an arrested man, Mohammad Yousuf, told police during interrogation that he was involved in the kidnapping of Ghazi Steel Mills' owner, a contractor and five other businessmen belonging to Hindu community.

They said police had recovered a kidnapped person, Abdul Hakeem, and arrested his kidnappers who were identified as Haji Taimor, Mohammad Yousuf, Abdul Wahid and Abdul Haleem.