SUKKUR, June 29: Hundreds of residents of the Ghulam Qadir Chachar village blocked the Indus Highway on Saturday following the death of a landlord and arrest of eight villagers.

The protesting villagers were carrying the body of the landlord.

The blockade ended after five hours when some influential people of the area assured the protesters that an FIR was registered against the SHO of the Durrani Mahar police station, Ali Mohammad Soomro.

Later, the police arrested eight villagers — Mehmood Chachar, Hazoor Bux, Faizu, Gul Hassan, Ali Jan, Lal Bux, Ali Hassan and Sabzoi — for creating law and order situation.

The landlord, Shahmore Chachar, was being taken to a hospital by villagers in a Datsun pickup when the police stopped the pickup and asked the villagers to take their fellows in their vehicle. On refusal of the villagers, the police allegedly tortured them and impounded their pickup. The police also manhandled the ailing landlord who later died.