LARKANA, Feb 24: Twelve policemen who were found to be involved in killing four persons in Qambar on December 24, 2004, were sent to the Central Prison here on Thursday after the civil judge of Qambar, Agha Niaz Pathan, refused them bail.

The policemen sent to the prison were Ashraf Lashari, Khadim Magsi, Haidar Bakhsh Shahani, Muharram Ali Taggar, Riaz Ahmed Kalhoro, Mohammed Soomar Panhwar, Nabi Bakhsh Magsi, Sanaullah Siyal, Muzaffar Chandio, Shahmir Magsi, Deedar Ali and Ghulam Haider Brohi.

The DPO of investigation of Shahdadkot, Ghulam Haider Abro, said that the absconding SHO of Mirokhan had surrendered before police on Thursday and was later produced in the court along with others.

They were taken to the court under tight security. All the arrested policemen were charge sheeted under Sections 337-H2, 220 and 319 PPC, the DPO of investigation said.

Meanwhile a complete strike was observed in Qambar for the second consecutive day on Thursday on the call of the Citizens' Action Committee. Students boycotted classes and traffic remained off the road.

A protest meeting was also held. A large number of people gathered at Chowk-i-Shuhada. Speaking on the occasion, Bhaoo Dur Mohammed Buriro, Yusuf Janveri and Yusuf Brohi expressed their doubts over the investigation, saying that exonerating some police officers, including the former DPO of Larkana, Muzaffar Shaikh, from the case 'spoke of the authenticity of the inquiry report'.

They said that the people of Qambar had been demanding action against the former DPO of Larkana right from day one. "But the inquiry officer saved them," they alleged. They said that the protest would continue until the government declared Qambar to be a district. The protestors also pelted stones on some vehicles, breaking their glasses.

APPOINTMENT ORDERS: In another development, the relatives of the deceased, Madad Ali Magsi, Nasir Hussain Khanzada, Riaz Hussain Buriro and Abdul Fatah Tunio, received orders for appointment in Sindh Revenue Department on Thursday, sources said.