ATTOCK, March 26: The regional police headquarters has declared a gambling case registered by the Jand police against 13 persons on March 19 as 'false' and ordered the suspension of the six-member raiding team, including the SHO; it has been learnt.

On public complaints, the police had launched a drive against anti-social activities, particularly gambling dens, in the area.

The Jand police arrested 13 persons on the charge of gambling and claimed to have recovered stake amount of Rs185,000 in the raid in Gulliyal village. Police sources said soon after the arrests, some people has tried to influence the police not to register the case against the accused persons. However, the accused were arrested and sent to the district jail.

Later, the accused filed a complaint with the regional police headquarters stating that the Jand police had taken the action at the instigation of their rivals.

The regional police headquarters directed the subdivisional police officer Hazro, Syed Akbar Abbas to probe the matter and submit a report.

The inquiry officer in its report declared the case genuine and as per the law. But the regional police headquarters turned it down and informed the district police officer on March 24 that the inquiry had been conducted in a very unprofessional and inappropriate manner.

The authority also said they had verified through their own sources that the gambling case was ambiguous and negated the circumstances narrated in the FIR.

The DPO, Hilal Khan, suspended the six police officials - SHO Inspector Rizwanullah, SI Ali Hussain, ASIs Fida Hussain, Tariq Mehmood, head constable Zahid and constable Afran.

When contacted, the DPO said all officials of the Jand police station had been suspended on the order of the RPO and further investigation of the case had been given to the SP investigation Attock.

He admitted that in his inquiry the SDPO Hazro had declared the case genuine. The DPO said the case was still under investigation, adding the campaign against anti-social activities would continue.

Regional Police officer Zubair Khan could not be contacted for comments.