BADIN, Oct 4: A murder case was registered against seven police officials including one DSP and two SHOs in connection with the death of a peasant who had died in police custody as Matli town remained closed in protest against the custodial death on Thursday.

Ghulam Ali Khaskheli was taken into custody by a joint investigation team of Badin police and was severely tortured by the police, probably at a number of police stations where dreaded torture cells are reported to be run.

He had reportedly died at Matli police station.

No remand from any legal authority regarding his arrest and custody was shown by the police and even the police chief of the district was kept in dark as till Wednesday he insisted the deceased had never been taken into custody.

The police allegedly concealed the body of Khaskheli either by keeping it in a mortuary or burying it at some undisclosed place.

On the insistence of Badin district Nazim Kamal Khan Chang and taluka Matli Nazim Asghar Halepoto, FIR was registered with Matli police u/s 302, 201 and 34 against DSP Golarchi Aslam Rajput,SHO Tando Ghulam Ali Nazeer Abro, SHO Matli Nandlal, in charge CIA Murtaza Mirani, sub-inspector Ghafoor Khaskheli, in charge police post Phalkara, and constable Fazal alias Guddo Mallah.

The brother of the deceased, Noor Mohammad Khaskheli lodged the FIR against the police officials of the investigation team for murder and concealing the body.

It is alleged in the FIR torture was committed by the police mainly at police post Phalkara.

District Nazim, taluka Nazim, DCO Badin, and SSP Badin issued directives for the formation of police parties to recover the body of the deceased and they were personally monitoring the progress.

Earlier, this correspondent was informed except two police officials involved in the murder case, the others had gone into hiding.

Even SHO Matli Nandlal who was earlier suspended by the SSP, was made to escape by the police. None of the senior police officials could be contacted. However, DSP Matli Noor Ali Mari confirmed no accused nominated in the FIR had so far been arrested.

Meanwhile complete strike was observed in Matli town on Thursday as a mark of protest against police brutality and barbarism of which Ghulam Ali Khaskheli became a victim.

All the shops and business centres were closed and the vehicular traffic also remained off the roads.

The strike call was given by the citizens action committee as well as various other organisations of the town.

A big rally was taken out which was led by the president Shehri Ittehad Matli and others.

The protesters marched on the main thoroughfares of the town and chanted slogans against the police.

The Commander Badin cantonment, Brig Ali Mohsin, taking a serious notice of the custodial death of Ghulam Ali Khaskheli, directed SSP Badin to register FIR, suspend the involved police officials and arrest them immediately.

He also warned the police to recover the body of the victim within two days.

The Commander also directed the district Nazim to take serious notice of the incident.

According to a handout issued by the information office, the Commander expressed grave concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the district, summoned the SSP at the cantonment and issued him a warning.

The Commander also appointed district in charge monitoring cell, Col Wahid and Maj Asif to supervise the investigation.