KASUR - The previous year witnessed 17 percent decrease in crime rate due to effective steps taken by the district police.

According to police, 37 notorious dacoits wanted in different cases of heinous crime were eliminated in shootouts with police. Police arrested 259 affiliates of 79 gangs; recovered Rs22 million cash and 353 different types of weapons from their possession. Police also arrested 2,396 proclaimed offenders and 1,178 court absconders. During a campaign against illegal weapons, police recovered 18 Kalashnikovs, 114 rifles, 309 guns, 1046 pistols, 35 carbines and registered 1,536 cases. In a vigorous crackdown on drug-peddlers, police seized 5kg of heroin, 507kg of Charas, 13.5kg of opium, 21367 bottles of liquor, 5130 litres of Lahan, 14.5kg of hashish, 1073kg of marijuana and registered 1810 cases.

The police also conducted operations under National Action Plan (NAP) and booked 272 people for violation of Amplifier Act; 382 for violation of Tenant Act; 328 for violation of security ordinance; 1,536 for violation of arms ordinance and eight for hate material.

A total of 12,517 cases were registered during 2017 while the number was 15,100 for the year 2016. Similarly, 602 cases of heinous crimes were reported during the previous year while the number was 697 for 2016.