HARIPUR, March 21: Four police personnel, including the SHO of Khanpur police station, were suspended by the NWFP IGP over the mysterious death of an accused in the lockup here on Saturday, official sources told Dawn.

The IGP also called for a judicial inquiry into the circumstances leading to an accused under interrogation in the police station lockup committing suicide. The Khanpur police had arrested one Nazakat, son of Mohammad Khan, from his native village of Dhok Gakhran for allegedly setting a school building ablaze.

Police claimed that the accused "committed suicide" in the lockup on Saturday by hanging himself from the ventilator of the lockup. However, the area people have doubts about the police claim, and alleged that the deathwas a result of sever physical torture by police.

Those suspended are Station House Office Haji Mursalin, Investigation Officer ASI Waheed Khan, Head Constable (Moharar) Mohammad Khawaja and constable Mohammad Hanif.