LAHORE: `Sharp cops` were assigned a task of arresting top 100 notorious gangsters involved in murder, robbery, extortion and kidnapping for ransom cases in different areas of the city, said Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Amin Wains.

The CCPO said this while talking to reporters at the Police Lines in Qila Gujjar Singh here on Monday.

DIG (Operations) Dr Haider Ashraf, acting DIG (Investigations) Rana Ayyaz Saleem and SP (CIA) Umer Virk were also present.

The CCPO said a team of 100 personnel was selected and deputed as `sharp cops` to nab as many hardened criminals in their respective areas.

Every sharp cop had been directed to arrest one gangster in his area, he added.

Mr Wains said if any of these criminals fled abroad he would be brought back after getting the `red warrant`.

He said the of ficials would be rewarded if they arrested any of the wanted criminal.

`The 100 police teams formed to arrest thesecriminals would have sufficient amount of financial and other resources to arrest these criminals,` he added.

Answering to media queries, he said that no political party in Lahore had any armed wing. `Any policemen found guilty of facilitating the criminals would have to face punishment, he warned.

ARRESTED: Police claimed on Monday to have arrested 205 members of 77 gangs involved in robbery, extortion, kidnapping for ransom while recovering Rs4.7 million during the month of April.

According to news release, during the month, 462 cases of illegal weapon were registered against 462 suspects while seven Kalashnikovs, 30 rifles, 36 short guns, 373 pistols and revolvers, one dagger and 2,437 bullets were recovered from their possession. Police also nabbed 549 alleged drug dealers and recovered 401(g heroine, 211kg hashish, 250gram opium and 3,190 bottles of liquor.

Police took action against gamblers and booked 721 accused, recovering betting amount worth Rs1.5 million.