LAHORE: Punjab Police claimed that 756,738 cases were registered against 1,247,212 people across the province during the year. As many as 10,224 gangsters involved in various crimes were arrested. Likewise, 38,052 cases were traced through investigation and stolen goods worth Rs2.1bn were recovered.

This information was shared in a meeting at the Central Police Office on Saturday in which Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Amir Zulfiqar Khan reviewed the performance of police during 2022.

In the current year, according to a report, 93,414 proclaimed offenders were arrested and imprisoned across the province while 26,132 drug peddlers were arrested with 218,849kg charas, 578kg heroin, 691kg opium and 40,722 litre liquor.

Police claimed that in the cases of possession of illegal weapons, 49,052 suspects were arrested from districts while 2,112 sten guns, 1,500 Kalashnikovs, 5,804 rifles, 2,598 guns, 658 revolvers, 33,327 pistols, an anti-aircraft gun and other weapons were seized.

In 2022, police recovered more than 18,000 stolen and snatched vehicles and motorcycles from various districts of Punjab. Similarly, 40,02,050 complaints were registered on the Complaint Management System out of which 39,82,331 were resolved.

Addressing the meeting, the IGP said a crackdown on criminal elements, especially organised groups, should be intensified.

He directed the officers to ensure effective patrolling and action against criminals involved in robbery, murder and kidnap and street crime cases. He said the supervisory officers of all districts should take measures to eradicate drug trafficking, illegal weapons and gender-based crimes. He said organised gangs implicated in car, motorcycle and vehicle theft and snatching in big cities should be busted.

Published in Dawn, january 1st, 2023