GUJRAT, Jan 8: The local police on Tuesday claimed to have brought a decline in crime graph in 2001 with the help of latest techniques.

District police chief Riaz Ahmad told newsmen that 1,637 proclaimed offenders and 830 deserters, involved in a number of murder and dacoity cases, were nabbed. Nadeem, involved in killing five Qadianis in Sialkot, was also arrested during the period, he added.

The official said the police registered 7,678 cases during the year as against the 8,704 in 2000. He maintained the police had recovered eighth rocket launchers, a grenade gun, 36 rockets, 30 time devices, six light shells, 56 kalashnikoves, two steinguns, 306 rifles, 240 guns, 392 revolvers, 775 pistols, 78 carbines, 55 grenades and 56 knives during a special drive against culprits.

At least 1,489 pushers were booked and 16kg of heroin, 454kg of charas and 2,598 liquor bottles were recovered, he said.

He said as many as 43 gangs of hardened criminals were smashed in 2001 and the police recovered booty worth Rs53 million, adding the number of gangs smashed in 2000 was 17 and the booty recovered worth Rs26 million.

Last year, he said, police could recover 55 of the 182 vehicles lifted or taken away while in 2001, the they managed to recover 106 vehicles out of a total 126.

The higher-ups would award certificates and cash prizes to the officials who brought laurels to the department, the official concluded.