LAHORE, Jan 2: Police claimed on Wednesday to have arrested five motorcycle lifters of an inter-provincial gang and recovered bikes besides illegal weapons from their possession.

Khanewal DPO Shahid Hanif said a police team was constituted to arrest the culprits after reports of increase in the incidence of motorcycle thefts in the area.

He said the police team arrested ringleader Sarfraz alias Kali, Munawwar Ali, Amir, Nasir and Javid alias Jaidi. Police also recovered 10 motorcycles, Rs50,000 in cash, six cell phones, 11 rifles, rifles, four pistols and a large number of cartridges. The DPO said the criminals were involved in committing crimes in Sahiwal and Kabirwala areas.

POs HELD: The Gujrat police arrested 2,405 proclaimed offenders besides smashing 362 members of 102 gangs involved in heinous crimes during 2007.

The police also recovered booty worth Rs30 million from their possession.

A police spokesman said here on Wednesday that 1,500 people were also arrested for possessing illegal arms after registering 2,821 cases against them.

The illegal arms recovered included 81 pistols, 432 rifles, 236 guns, 49 revolvers, 82 Kalashnikovs, 53 carbines and 20,689 cartridges. Police also seized six maunds of hashish, 1,400 gram heroin, 566 gram opium and hundreds of liquor bottles.

Meanwhile, the Sheikhupura police arrested 5,324 criminals and recovered booty worth Rs15 million from their possession besides smashing 348 gangs during the last year.—APP