HAFIZABAD/GUJRANWALA, Sept 1: The Pindi Bhattian civil judge on Wednesday granted bail to six people, including MNA Mehdi Bhatti, in Dubbar village case.

Others granted bail were identified as Abdul Rauf, Qadus, Khizar Hayat, Sikandar Hayat, Meeran Nawaz Bhatti, the MNA's relatives.

Reports said police had registered a case against Mr Bhatti and his relatives on charges of interference in official duty and thrashing policemen. Gujranwala Range DIG Altaf Qamar told Dawn that the police on Tuesday had arrested eight accused namely Qadus, Sikandar Hayat, Khizar Hayat, Ghazanfar, Mubashar, Bashir Ahmed, Allah Rakha and Ansar from Dubbar and Burj Dara villages.

He said the police party also recovered Mukhtar, an ex-employee of Mehdi Bhatti, from Burj Dara besides weapons. He claimed that Mukhtar who was found tied with rope told the police that he had been abducted for bonded labour. Police had also registered an abduction case against Meeran Bhatti.

Meanwhile, DPO Mir Aslam Ghauri denied allegations of police excesses and taking away valuables during raids at the village. Speaking at a press conference, MNA Mehdi Bhatti alleged that the high police officers had grudge against him as he had raised voice against the increasing number of crimes in the district and the irregularities of the police.

He said all the cases registered against him and his family members were baseless and fabricated. "Undoubtedly I exchanged hot words with the police to get a six-year-old boy released as he had not done any crime," the MNA said.

Meanwhile, Jehangir, the father of Mukhtar, filed a petition with the Hafizabad district and sessions judge, stating that the police had 'kidnapped' his son and kept him in illegal confinement.

Mukhtar's wife Kulsoom said her husband and his whole family had been tenants of Meeran Bhatti for five years. She alleged that the police concocted the story to conceal their humiliating treatment with villagers.