LAHORE: Police on Wednesday claimed to have arrested 2,312 members of 937 gangs and recovered cash, jewellery and valuables worth Rs150 million during 2015.

Police also traced 2,656 cases and arrested 19,272 proclaimed offenders (POs) and court absconders in the same period.

According to a news release, on the directions of Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Dr Haider Ashraf steps were taken to curb crime in the city. All divi-sional superintendents of police had taken special measures and arrested 2,312 criminals of 937 gangs, who were allegedly involved in heinous crimes, 5,742 POs and 13,530 court absconders.

During 2015, 5,048 cases were registered against 5,073 suspects for their involvement in possessing illegal weapons, while 90 Kalashnikovs, 291 rifles, 434 short guns, 4,196 revolvers and pistols, eight carbines, 66 daggers and 107,694 bullets were seized.

Police also registered 6,362 cases of drug trafficking and arrested 6,462 suspects,recovered 559kg of heroin, 1,849kg hashish, 30kg opium and 45,795 bottles of liquor.

Moreover, 1,277 cases were registered against gamblers and 7,233 suspects arrested and betting amount worth over Rs9.2 million recovered.

In the same period, during special crackdown 7,001 cases were registered against 10,538 culprits for violation of law over one-wheeling, kite flying, aerial firing, beggary, price control, marriage and foreigner act.

Meanwhile, Cantonment division police claimed to have arrested eight suspects andbusted two gangs of robbers and recovered cash, jewellery and illegal weapons.

Superintendents of police Imtiaz Sarwar (operations) and Ismail Kharak (investigation) while addressing a press conference said the suspects were involved in snatching mobile phones, cash and valuables. The suspects were identified as Farooq, Shafiq, Amjad, Abid, Umer Daraz, Haider Ali, Ansar Ali, Abid Ali and Wajid.

Police also recovered five motorcycles, eight mobile phones, one laptop, Rs110,000 cash, one pistol and 38 bullets from their possession.