DADU, June 28: Twelve people, including a DSP, an ASI, two police constables and eight protesters, were injured in a clash between police and protesters in Khudabad town on Dadu-Larkana Indus Highway near Dadu city on Saturday.

A large number of people, including women of Khudabad town, blocked Dadu-Larkana Indus Highway against the arrest of Mohammad Arib Birhamani. Traffic remained suspended for two hours due to the protest. Mohammad Arib Birhamani was arrested two days ago in a road robbery near Dadu.

However the protesters, led by Shiraz Birhamani, Majid, Khiran and Sahib Khatoon, speaking on the occasion said that Dadu police had arrested Mohammad Arib Birhamani without any proof of his involvement in any case.

DSP of Dadu Kazi Ishfaque arrived at the spot and tried to negotiate with the protestors but the angry mob attacked the police with axes and clubs.

Police opened fire and baton-charged and tear-gassed the protesters.

As a result of the clash, DSP Kazi Ishfaque Hussain, ASI Majeed Saharan, two constables, Mumtaz and Khadim Hussain, and eight protesters, including Chakar, Shiraz, Majid, Ms Khairan, Sahib Khatoon, Ms Izat Khatoon and two others, were injured.

DSP Kazi Ishfaque was shifted to Liaquat Medical University Hospital in Jamshoro in a critical condition.

A protester, Shiraz Birhamani, was shifted to LUMHS hospital Jamshoro. He received bullet wounds. Other injured were shifted to Dadu Civil Hospital.

Dadu DPO Manzoor Hussain Khatian along with a contingent of police arrived at the spot.

While talking to reporters he said that Mohammad Arib was a criminal and had been arrested during a robbery.

He said that the man had a criminal record and asked that how could police release a criminal.

He said that protesters were pressurising police for the release of Arib.

He said that DSP Kazi Ishfaque had arrived there to control the protest but the protesters attacked the police.

He said that a case had been registered against the protesters for blocking the road and attacking police.

The road was reopened after the clash.