GUJRAT, Feb 26: Acting DPO Javed Iqbal Shami has penalized 127 police officials for negligence and their failure to achieve the target for the arrest of proclaimed offenders and court absconders.

The action has been taken on the direction of Range police DIG Altaf Qamar. The DIG had asked the district police officers of Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, Narowal and Hafizabad to launch a campaign against POs and court absconders and warned them of action in case 50 per cent target was not met. Initially, the campaign started on Nov 18 and continued till Dec 31 but it was extended for a month for those districts failing to achieve target.

According to statistics, Gujrat police could achieve only 24 per cent of the target for the arrest of POs and 17 per cent for court absconders. Only Mandi Bahauddin and Hafizabad police could achieve the target.

The DIG had suspended from service eight SHOs of different police stations in Sialkot and four SHOs in Gujrat for their failure to achieve the target. However, the suspension orders were implemented only in Sialkot.

After expiry of the extended date, relevant officials of the six districts had sent comprehensive reports to the DIG office about figures of arrests. Sources claimed that Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gujrat and Narowal police could hardly improve the record.

After reviewing the results, the Range police chief directed the acting DPO to take a punitive action against the subordinates who cut a sorry figure during the campaign. The office also sent a list of policemen who remained inefficient.

Mr Shami has handed down punishment to around 127 policemen, including SHOs of different police stations. He has also dismissed from service sub-inspector Tahir Mahmood.

The punishment included deduction from salaries up to one to two years and recommendation for non-enhancement of salaries for the same period, besides warnings.

Meanwhile, the DPO has directed City DSP Saleem Sadiq to start an inquiry against sub-inspector Nawaz Sahi of B-Division police station for abuse of authority and 'patronizing' criminals.

The action was taken after residents of Kalra Klan submitted a written complaint to the DPO. It is alleged in the complaint that the SI patronizes his son, who has built an outhouse in the village to flourish criminal activities.

BODY FOUND: Kharian Saddar police on Friday recovered a body from a deserted place.

The deceased was identified as Arif. A case was registered on the complaint of the slain's brother, Basharat.