Police say 29 arrested in Peshawar crackdown

PESHAWAR: The capital city police have busted a number of groups during a crackdown against street criminals and arrested 29 people involved in snatching and other incidents.

“During the operation, we have arrested 29 criminals involved in snatching and lifting of motorbikes, cellphones and other valuables. The held men also include seven shopkeepers involved in the business of stolen and snatched cellphones,” Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Peshawar Zahoor Babar Afridi told reporters at the Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines on Monday.

The official said three cars, eight motorbikes, one auto-rickshaw, six bicycles, 44 cellphones and cash and valuables worth millions of rupees were recovered from the held criminals. “All the SPs, DSPs and SHOs of the capital city have launched the crackdown against street criminals. There were at least seven shopkeepers who sold stolen cellphones,” said SSP Peshawar.

He said the shopkeepers and other snatchers smuggled the snatched and stolen cellphones to Afghanistan.

The SSP said that one accused Samiullah broke into houses when the families had gone to hometowns.