Members of a criminal gang, who have been battling the army in Punjab province of Pakistan,, have surrendered after a military operation. Army sources said 24 policemen taken hostage a week ago were also freed.
It is not clear how many members of the “Chhotu” gang gave themselves up – or whether their leader Ghulam Rasool Chhotu was among them. The bandits have been blamed for hundreds of kidnappings, gun-smuggling and other crimes in recent years. They operate in a remote region of southern Punjab.