MIRPURKHAS, July 23: A medical board on Monday examined five under-15-year boys of a scheduled caste community who had been kept in illegal confinement and tortured by the Phuladiyoon police.

On the directives of DPO Abdullah Shaikh, Nandlal, son of Doongar, Harchand, son of Jawaro, Haresh, son of Prem, Ashok, son of Kanji, and Nandlal, son of Pancho, all Meghwar by caste, were brought to the Mirpurkhas Civil Hospital fir medical check-up by Phuladiyoon supervising police officer Manthar Bhayo.

The board — comprising Dr Moosa Memon, Dr Jawaharlal Lal, chest specialist Dr Mohammad Hayat Khan, ENT specialist Dr Mohammed Ashfaq Memon and skin specialist Dr Lekhraj Rathi -- examined the boys to ascertain their ages and refereed them to the Liaquat Medical University Hospital, Hyderabad. The doctors found torture marks on the body of Harchand.

The police had taken the boys into custody five days ago after registering a non-cognisable report on the complainant Dr Mehak Ali Mari, in-charge, Phuladiyoon Rural health centre, who had accused them of stealing wheat crop.

The boys were allegedly kept in illegal confinement for five days at separate places where the police subjected them to torture to force them to admit the perceived crime.

After receiving information, the DPO and Sindhri Taluka Nazim Sarfaraz Junejo reached the Phuladiyoon police station and met with the boys. The DPO suspended Phuladiyoon SHO Soomar Mangrio and directed Manthar Bhayo to conduct an inquiry into the matter and submit report in three days.

The political, social and human rights organizations of Mirpurkhas district have condemned the Phuladiyoon police for keeping the boys in illegal confinement.