DADU, Jan 25: The Kotri-bound Shahbaz Express escaped an accident and had to be stopped at the Sita Road railway station on Friday night after some saboteurs had damaged the rail tracks.

According to the railway police, the saboteurs tried to uproot the rail tracks between Piaro Goth and Sita Road railway stations by loosening their nuts and bolts.

However, a patrolling team of railway gangmen saw the damaged tracks and informed the officials of the Sita Road railway station.

The officials stopped the train at the Sita Road station and informed the railways authorities about the situation.

After a few hours, a team of engineering wing of the railways arrived at the site and repaired the railway line.

Later, the railways police arrested a man, Akbar Solangi, on the charge of damaging the rail tracks.

When the news of his arrest reached the Sita Road town, a large number of residents held a demonstration at the railway station and blocked the rail tracks for three hours.

The protesters stopped the Quetta-bound Bolan Mail and demanded release of Solangi.

During the demonstration, the grandmother of Solangi, Fatima, 60, fell unconscious and died.

The railways authorities released Solangi and ordered an investigation into the incident.

When contacted, Solangi said that he was cutting gross at his fields when the railway police arrested him and tortured him to confess to the crime.

On the other hand, the railway police claimed that they had recovered some nuts and bolts from the possession of Solangi.

The Nazim of Sita Road union council, Ali Muhammad Soomro, said that the railway staff might be involved in the incident as they usually stole nuts and bolts of rail tracks.

Meanwhile, the railway police arrested another man, Badar Solangi, and booked him in the case.