ISLAMABAD, May 4: As many as 18 suspected persons including a proclaimed offender (PO) were arrested and 126 vehicles were impounded by the capital police during a general hold-up on Wednesday.

According to a police spokesman, the hold-up continued for more than five hours in which the police conducted search and snap checking in different localities and on various roads.

During the search operation, a proclaimed offender (PO) was arrested besides 17 people were also taken into custody as they could not prove their identity and convince the police regarding their stay in the city.

The police also conducted checking of the vehicles especially at the entry and exit points and impounded 105 motorcycles and 21 cars as these were being plied without registration book or having suspicious registration plat, engine and chassis number.

Meanwhile, the police also arrested 17 persons during a crackdown on the criminals and recovered mobiles and pistols from them.

The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) arrested four suspected persons and recovered mobiles and cash from their possession. The accused snatched mobiles and cash from Saadat Kahn at gunpoint from sector I-10/2.

Likewise, the Sabzi Mandi police arrested a person and recovered two snatched mobile phones from him while a woman allegedly involved in theft case was also arrested.

Similarly, on a tip-off, the Koral police arrested four accused including a woman for their alleged involvement in immoral activities. A pistol was also recovered from one of them.

During search operation conducted in Sabzi Mandi area, three suspects were also taken into custody.