PESHAWAR, April 1: Fire gutted at least six shops in Jehangirpura area in the limits of Khan Raziq Shaheed police station here on Tuesday evening, eyewitnesses and police said.

Police said the cause of fire could not be ascertained immediately but some people blamed a welder for the incident. The destroyed shops, police added, were of computer accessories and cellular phones.

The fire engulfed the entire area within minutes, but it was overpowered by the joint efforts of fire brigade and shopkeepers of the nearby markets.

FIFTY-NINE HELD: The city police on Tuesday claimed to have arrested 59 accused including five proclaimed offenders and recovered weapons from their possessions.

According to a police spokesman, the proclaimed offenders include Asfandyar resident of Tarnab, Asghar, Dastgir, Alamgir,Aftab of Hazarkhwani.

The other persons were arrested allegedly for their involvement in gambling, dealing in narcotics business, and street crimes in limits of various police stations in the metropolis.

He said three Kalashnikovs, two Kalakovs, four rifles, a shotgun, 16 pistols, 2,899 cartridges of various kinds, 21 kilograms of hashish and Rs8,900 stake money were also recovered.