31.   While the two sects generally get along in Pakistan, militant groups, led by heavily armed thugs, have emerged in recent years.

32.   With government police unwilling to step in, armed thugs forced customs inspectors to hand over a shipload of contraband, a government official said Friday.

33.   A panicked traffic policeman is reported to have abandoned his motorcycle and fled on foot when he saw the armed thugs.

34.   Scores of others were injured in clashes and when armed thugs raided several balloting centres in a bid to sabotage voting in Bihar, notorious for election violence.

35.   Scores of others were injured in clashes and when armed thugs raided several balloting centres in a bid to sabotage voting.