LAHORE, March 4: Over 300 people held a demonstration on the Ravi Road on Thursday to protest Wednesday's death of a man allegedly by police torture. Carrying placards that were inscribed with slogans against the police, the protesters placed the body on a service lane and kept it blocked for well over two hours.

They tried to march towards the Governor's House but were not allowed to do so by the police. They did not remove the body from the service lane until they were assured by the police authorities that action would be taken against the accused policemen.

A CIA Kotwali police team led by Sub-Inspector Mazhar Iqbal had conducted a raid to arrest a prize bond dealer, Irfan Ahmad. The police team claimed they seized illegal bonds worth Rs11,000 from the dealer and took him into custody.

Nasir told reporters the policemen were dragging his brother down the street when a neighbour, Muhammad Shahid (46), dared stop them. The policemen got infuriated and started thrashing Mr Shahid, he said.

Nasir alleged that the police officials subjected Mr Shahid to severe physical torture. Mr Shahid sustained critical injuries and died in a hospital. The other accused policemen were identified as constables Muhammad Sadiq, Imran Kashif, Ataullah, Khalid Mahmood and Nazir Hussain.

The police claimed that the SI and two of the constables had been arrested and detained in a Misri Shah lock-up. A murder case had already been registered against them on a directive from city police chief DIG Tariq Saleem, who also suspended them. He also issued a show-cause notice to the DSP concerned, Omar Virk.

The protesters alleged that the SI had over 20 cases registered against him on various charges and had a criminal record. "His suspension is not something new. Whenever he gets suspended, his colleagues bail him out," said one of the protesters, Nayab Khan.

The body was later buried in a local graveyard. A police source said the initial autopsy report had recorded bruises and other torture marks on the body.