MULTAN, Sept 4: Scores of villagers allegedly attacked Khanpur Saddar police station in Rahim Yar Khan district on Sunday while protesting against police ‘high-handedness.’

Villagers of Dashti Baloch clan had gathered outside the police station to collect body of their relative, Abdul Qadir, who was gunned down on Saturday night. Police claimed that four people had barged into the house of Shabbir Baloch in Piraan Baloch on Saturday night. The inmates, however, overpowered two of them, including Qadir, while two others escaped. Later, they opened fire to rescue their ‘accomplices.’

The police claimed that Qadir was killed by the firing of his accomplices who had managed to escape. Shabbir Baloch and others handed over his body to the police the next morning. However, Qadir’s family alleged that he was murdered by Shabbir and others with whom they had an old enmity.

When the police refused to register a murder case against Shabbir and others, Qadir’s family pelted stones and bricks on the police station. The police later baton-charged them and resorted to tear gas. Some 20 to 25 protesters were reportedly injured in the police action.

Police have also registered a case against the protesters.