GUJRANWALA, Dec 7: A primary school student who was kidnapped for ransom from Jandiala Baghwala village was released after police arrested the accused on Thursday.

Police said Afaq was going to school on Dec 5 when accused Abdul Ghafoor and his accomplices kidnapped him and demanded Rs200,000 ransom for his release. His heirs got registered a first information report against the accused and his accomplices on the same day. On Thursday, police on a tip-off raided an outhouse, arrested the accused and got released the minor. Police got physical remand of the accused from an anti-terrorism court for one day.

FAKE OIL: Nandipur Police Station unearthed a fake mobil oil factory and arrested its owner in Garjakh on Thursday.

Police got a tip-off that hardcore criminal Zafar Iqbal, wanted in the murder of four people, was present in the factory. When police raided the factory, Malik Riaz, factory’s owner, allegedly helped Iqbal flee. During the raid, police however found fake mobil oil being manufactured there. Police arrested Riaz and seized gallons of fake mobil oil from him. A case has been registered against Riaz.

GANGS BUSTED: The regional police claimed on Thursday to have busted 481 gangs of dacoits and robbers and seized looted goods worth Rs246.89 million from them during a drive launched against them. Additional Inspector General of Police Malik Muhammad Iqbal told reporters on Thursday that 7,783 wanted criminals were arrested, of them 1,859 were involved in murder, gang rape and kidnap for ransom. Police arrested 7,851 court fugitives and seized 15 hand grenades, a rocket launcher, seven stain guns, 140 kalashnikovs, 1,323 rifles, 1,245 guns, 5,949 revolvers, 303 pistols and over 6,000 cartridges from criminals during the campaign.

Separately, District Police Officer Mian Muhammad Asif directed all station house officers to ensure patrolling in their areas to check street crimes and warned that inefficient police officers would be taken to task.