HYDERABAD, May 4: The Rajput community blocked the National Highway near Hala on Sunday after the body of a member of their community, Nisar Ahmed Rajput, was recovered from the bathroom of a bungalow.

The bungalow is owned by Makhdoom Fazal Ali alias Peer Babu.

The deceased Nisar Rajput was a councillor of Union Council-2, Hala, and a retired army official.

The Hala police said that Mr Nisar had been missing from his house since Saturday night.

Mr Nisar’s brother, Mohammad Abid Rajput, who had lodged a case at the Hala police station, said that he had Rs30,000 in his possession when he left for Peer Babu’s house.

It was learnt that several friends used to gather at Babu’s residence for playing cards.

The sub-inspector, Hala police station, Karim Chandio, told this correspondent over the telephone that they had been informed about Mr Nisar’s death by Peer Babu’s servant. His brother, Abid, went to the bungalow where he found the body and was told that his brother had committed suicide. He as well as other members of his family refused to believe that it was a suicide case.

Police said that rope marks were visible around Mr Nisar’s neck.

Peer Babu is the brother-in-law of Makhdoom Fazal Hussain, a local PPP leader, who had contested the elections from Hala on a provincial assembly seat.

Other accused who have been nominated in the FIR are Shafiq Ahmed Rajput, Shafqat Sofiyani, and Wali Mohammad Bughio. Both Shafiq and Shafqat have been arrested.

Mr Nisar’s body was handed over to his family.