KOHAT: Police launched a crackdown on arms shops here on Tuesday and arrested nine dealers for keeping unlicenced weapons.

The arrested arm dealers were identified as Shahid Iqbal, Fain Shah, Khan Mohammad, Roedad Khan, Nawaz Sharif, Tariq Mehmood, Hamaad, Ayaz and Habib. They were booked under Section 15 AA of the PPC by the City police.

Sources said that Nawaz Sharif and Tariq Mehmood were running the business illegally as their licences were expired.

Sources said that some of the arrested persons were preparing arm licences for the potential buyers from Punjab by charging Rs45,00 from them whereas actual fee for an arm licence was Rs2,800. The unlicenced arms seized by police include 41 pistols of 30 bore made in Darra Adamkhel, four repeaters, two rifles, two shotguns and 3,200 cartridges.

DPO Mohammad Sohaib Ashraf said that such illegal activities were responsible for promoting gun culture in the society. He said that there was no record of the weapons sold by the dealers.

Meanwhile, Gumbat and Jarma police arrested 18 persons including three Afghan nationals and recovered weapons and suspicious vehicles from their possession.

The Gumbat police raided hideouts of criminals in Gandiali, Chor Lakki, Nakband, Jabber and Ghorazai and arrested five persons.

The Jarma police also raided a hideout of criminals and recovered drugs, two motorcycles and a suspicious car besides crude oil stolen from the local oil fields. Police arrested 13 persons and seized four pistols, two rifles, stolen crude oil, 1,500 cartridges and drugs.

KILLED: Two persons including an Afghan national were killed in two separate incidents here on Tuesday. Police said that Istekhab Ali was killed while Adab Ali, Dilshad Ali and Sultan Ali were injured when they clashed with their rivals. Police arrested three of the 14 persons nominated in the case.

In another incident, an Afghan national Adi Gul was killed over a marriage dispute in Ghulam Banda refugee camp area of Bilitang. Police registered the case on the complaint of Abid, a brother of the victim.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2015

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