GUJRANWALA, Aug 1: Civil lines police claimed on Tuesday to have busted two gangs of car lifters and robbers involved in about 122 incidents and recovered stolen vehicles and other valuables from their possession during a special drive.
Speaking at a news conference here, headquarters SP Abdul Qadir Qayyum and Aroop town SP Sheikh Muhammad Siddique said the ring leader of car lifters’ gang was identified as Ismail alias Yasin of Bahawalpur while Shahid Bashir of Narowal, Khalid Mehmood of Lahore and Shahid Mehmood of Muridke were his accomplices.
They said the accused had been lifting 800cc cars from district courts, excise and taxation office, district account office, DHQ hospital and other parts of the city for the last two and a half years.
They had lifted over 100 cars and later sold them at Bahawalpur and tribal areas. They used to hire `services’ of young women and paid them Rs50,000 as commission per vehicle.
The police recovered five cars, two vans, 16 mobile phones, gold jewellery, wrist watches and arms from their possession. Raids were being conducted for the recovery of other cars.
The ring leader of the other gang was identified as Waqas alias Kashi Butt while Hafiz Shahzad of Ghakkar, Usman Baga and Rifaqat of Sialkot and Rehmat of Head Marala were his accomplices. The gangsters were wanted in about two dozen robberies and had allegedly raped some women during dacoity, the police officers said.
Police recovered huge quantity of looted goods and illicit arms from their possession.
Meanwhile, DPO Mian Muhammad Asif appreciated the police performance and announced cash prize and commendation certificates for members of the raiding party.
REINSTATED: Eight police officials, who were dismissed by the former district police officer on the charge of inefficiency, were reinstated by DIG Malik Muhammad Iqbal on an appeal on Tuesday.
The officials appealed to the DIG to reinstate them after taking an undertaking that they would perform their professional duties honestly.
RELEASED: As many as 92 prisoners, including four women, involved in minor cases were released on the orders of the district and sessions judge during his visit to the district jail on Tuesday.
He listened to the problems of prisoners in barracks, besides taking stock of the security arrangements.