Cattle lifters arrested

As many as 385 cattle heads valuing over Rs 10 million, 8 stolen tractors, two motorcycles and 14 illegal weapons were recovered from the hideouts of 35 hardened cattle lifters and criminals.
A successful raid was conducted by the police force of the four adjoining districts in notorious criminal belt, Jhangar Galootran area, on the left side of River Chenab. This raid was conducted in connection with the campaign started in Faisalabad Police Range against the cattle lifters under the directive of the Chief Minister Punjab, Chaudhry Parvaiz Ellahi.
Giving details in Press Conference at Burj in Jhangar Galootran area, here on Monday, the DIG Faisalabad Range Kh. Khalid Farooq said that the Chief Minister Punjab had directed the DIGs and DPOs of the province to take action against the cattle lifters.
Jhangar Galootran area of Jhang, which has common boundaries with Hafizabad and Sargodha districts had earned a repute of being a safe heaven for the cattle lifters due to the location of this area along Chenab River with common boundaries with the other districts. These criminals got away during raids by crossing over the river or into the adjoining districts.
In view of the circumstances a high level meeting was held in Faisalabad in which besides DIG Faisalabad, the DIGs of Sargodha and Gujranwala Parvaiz Akbar Lodhi and Zafar Abbas Lak, the DPOs of Faisalabad, Jhang, Sargodha and Hafizabad Captain Amin Wanice (retd), Hamid Mukhtar Gondal, M. Naeem Khan and Syed Parvaiz Kandhari were present, among others concerned.
After details discussions, a strategy was evolved for operation in the Jhangar Galootran area.
The operation was led by DPO Jhang who constituted 10 teams comprising DSPs/ASPs of Faisalabad, Jhang and Hafizabad districts.
The raiding contingent including 30 SHOs, 60 Sub Inspectors, 1200 Constables/Head Constables and 40 teams of Elite force drawn from these district.
The raiding police parties encircled the Jhangir Galootran area early in the morning and started operation. During which stolen animals valuing over Rs 10 million including 385 cattle heads and goats etc, 8 stolen tractors, two motorcycles and 14 illegal weapons were recovered from the hide outs of 35 hardened cattle lifters who were arrested by the police.
The DIG said that intimation about the recovery of stolen livestock had been made in the area over the drum beat and the people would also come to know of it through the media that they could identify their stolen animals for getting possession after completion of necessary legal formalities.
The DIG said that the residents of the area have heaved a sigh of relief over the arrest of these criminals and have thanked Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvaiz Ellahi, I.G. Police Major Zia-ul-Hassan (retd) and other police officers for arresting the cattle lifters and recovering their stolen animals.
The DIG said that the action against cattle lifters in the area would continue in a regular and sustained manner for purging the area of these elements.
He also announced prizes and certificates for those who took part in the operation.
Those present during the press conference included DPO Faisalabad Captain Amin Waince (retd), DPO Jhang Hamid Mukhtar Gondal, MNA Syed Tahir Shah, Tehsil Nazim Syed Zulfiqar Shah, notables and residents of the area, among others.