SIALKOT, Sept 26: The police smashed six inter-district gangs involved in looting CNG stations and patrol pumps and arrested their 25 members during a special campaign launched against criminals in the district.

DPO Bilal Sadiq Kamiyana claimed this while talking to reporters here on Monday.

The DPO said the arrested accused belonged to Abdul Majeed alias Jeeda gang, Tariq alias Tara gang, Jehangir alias Jhaangu gang, Musalli gang and Liaquat alias Liaqu Chirra gang.

He said those arrested included Tariq alias Tara, Jehangir Kashmiri, Jamil alias Toti, Mudassar Pervaiz, Qaisar alias Qaisaru, Amanat Ali, Waqar, Abdul Rehman alias Mana, Lateef alias Teefa, Sarwar alias Kunna, Allah Ditta, Malik Nanha, Mansha, Riasat, Maroof Jutt, Muneer Butt, Nazir, Chhama alias Achchu, Pervaiz Abdul Majeed, Azhar and Sher Dil.

The DPO said the arrested criminals were wanted by Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura and Lahore police in 55 cases of murder, dacoity, robbery, theft and kidnapping for ransom.

The police recovered 24 stolen/snatched motorcycles, a car, cash, ornaments, electronic items and other valuables worth Rs2.6 million from them.

The DPO claimed Tariq alias Tara gang had shot dead a gunman of a CNG station during a dacoity on Sialkot-Pasrur Road about a fortnight back. He said the gangsters had also looted 16 CNG stations and five patrol pumps in Sialkot, Sheikhupura, Muridke and Narang Mandi. They snatched a car from a man near a filling station on Khiyali-Gujranwala bypass.

He said the gang also injured four constables during an encounter near Sharaqpur, besides snatching a car from a person in Phalia.