Gujranwala police crackdown yields sharp decline in crime ratio

LAHORE:Gujranwala police have reported a significant reduction in serious crimes against property, driven by a robust crackdown on organised gangs in recent months.

According to data from the Punjab Safe Cities Authority, Pucar-15 calls received in the first four months of 2025 show a 47% drop in shop robbery incidents compared to the same period in 2024. Other property-related crimes also saw notable declines: shop dacoity by 20%, house robbery by 29%, shop burglary by 11%, and car theft by 14%. In an interview with The News, DIG M Ayyaz Saleem, CPO Gujranwala, credited the decline to the relentless efforts of the Gujranwala police, particularly the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA), which dismantled numerous inter-district gangs. From January to April 2025, police arrested 290 members of 113 gangs, recovering stolen property worth Rs. 70.7 million. Total recoveries in property crime cases during this period amounted to Rs. 128.8 million.

CPO Saleem outlined a comprehensive surveillance mechanism under the Restriction of Habitual Offenders Act, 1918, to monitor known criminals. This includes court-ordered movement restrictions and periodic interviews at a dedicated centre. Additional measures contributing to the decline in organised crime include a patrolling plan based on digital crime mapping to target hotspots and snap checks using the E-Police Post App. Between January and April 2025, the app facilitated checks on 390,935 individuals and 318,568 vehicles, leading to the arrest of 220 proclaimed offenders (POs) and the recovery of 1,161 stolen vehicles. The police also intensified efforts against drug trafficking, registering 1,085 cases in the same period and seizing 199 kg of heroin, 811 kg of chars, 13 kg of opium, 600g of ice, and 4,725 litre liquor. A parallel crackdown on illegal arms resulted in 872 arrests in 858 cases, with recoveries including 58 Kalashnikovs, 76 rifles, 45 guns, 688 pistols, and 5,461 bullets. Gujranwala police excelled in apprehending proclaimed offenders, arresting 3,740 POs in the first four months of 2025, with a strong focus on Category-A offenders. The force also demonstrated exceptional performance in resolving serious cases, including murder, blind murder, and robbery-cum-murder. From 2024 to April 2025, 580 accused were arrested in 292 murder cases, including 31 blind murders, and 29 accused in 18 robbery-cum-murder cases.

The success rate for resolving blind robbery-cum-murder cases in 2024 reached 90%. Aligning with the vision of the Punjab Chief Minister, Gujranwala police prioritised combating sexual offenses against women and children. In the first four months of 2025, 27 accused were arrested in 11 gang rape cases, 52 in 51 rape cases, and 66 in 46 cases of rape/sodomy involving minors.