DADU, Aug 11: Attackers gunned down a TV journalist, his brother and nephew and left two passers-by for dead at the Cinema Chowk in close proximity of the Dadu town police station and escaped with ease on Monday.

Eyewitness said that police officials in the police station were watching the killing spree, which continued for about 15 minutes, but none of them ventured out to help the victims not to speak of stopping the attackers.

They said that Mohammad Azim Leghari, a reporter of Dharti TV and former general secretary of the press club, was crossing the road with his brother Ali Hassan and nephew Mashooq when a group of armed Leghari tribesmen who were waiting for them opened fire on them.

As Azim fell dead on the spot his brother and nephew ran for their lives but the attackers chased them, caught up with them within minutes and killed them with complete impunity, they said.

The eyewitnesses said that the attackers finished with the job in about 15 minutes and appeared at ease throughout. Two passers-by Ihsan and Irfan Khushik were also injured seriously in the firing.

Police moved the bodies to Dadu Civil Hospital, which were later handed over to relatives after autopsy. The injured were admitted to the hospital.

Police filed an FIR on a complaint lodged by Jaffar, son of Mohammad Khan Leghari, against Lutuf Leghari, Khan, Hakim, Nusrat, Manzoor and two unknown men.

Mashhoq had had love marriage with Sajeela Lghari, nephew of Lutuf Leghari, about two months ago but his family had to return the girl to her family under pressure brought to bear on them by an influential feudal lord of the area.

Area people believe the murders are aimed at avenging the perceived insult brought on the family by the love-marriage and subsequent return of the girl.

A large number of journalists poured onto the roads and streets of the city after the incident and held a rally and a demonstration outside the press club.

The protesters said that the murders took place under the very nose of Dadu police station but the police failed to arrest the accused. If the killers were not arrested journalists would continue their protest across the district, he warned. Police let Azim’s brother and nephew who were critically injured die by delaying in moving them to hospital, they alleged.