HYDERABAD, Feb 2: Provincial Police Officer Syed Kamal Shah has formed a team to investigate the death of a man in the Satellite Town police station in Mirpurkhas on Jan 25.

It was learnt here on Wednesday that the three-member inquiry team had not yet fixed any date to visit Mirpurkhas.

The team, comprising the DIG, Sindh Reserve Police, Abdul Qadir Mahar, AIGP, investigation, Haji Sadiq, and the AIGP, finance, Fida Hussain Mastoi, has to submit its report to the PPO in 15 days.

The team is required to look into circumstances that led to the arrest of the man, Abu Bakar Panwhar, and his subsequent death in police custody. Mr Panwhar had allegedly been caught red-handed by a watchman while committing a theft in a shop.

The committee will also see whether Mr Panwhar, who the People's Party Parliamentarians claims was its worker, had any criminal record and whether he had been tortured at the police station.

Mr Panwhar's death had sparked and protests and violence in the city. The SHO of the police station, Mohammad Rafiq Siyal, SI Khamiso Khan, ASI Ghulam Shabbir Dasti and constable Mohammad Aslam have been booked in the murder case on the complaint of Ali Mohammad Panwhar, the deceased's father.

Although no formal proceedings have been initiated but it was learnt that the AIGP, investigation, had talked to the investigating officer of the case and had gathered some details.

A police source said the inquiry team would record statements of police officials concerned. The watchman, Masood Khan, who had caught Mr Panwhar and handed him over to police, and some other watchmen of the area would also be examined.

The post-mortem report would be discussed and the medico-legal officer would be asked to give his testimony and then the report would be submitted, he further said. PPP MPA Shamim Aara Panwhar and some SPSF activists have also been booked by police for allegedly inciting people to resort to violence after the custodial death.