LARKANA, Sept 5: The district bench of Sindh High Court directed an SHO on Thursday to pay Rs40,000 to the heirs of a five-year-old girl for keeping her in illegal detention.

In a petition, Mohammed Azim Luhar, a resident of Rehmatpur, had stated that Nasirabad SHO Altaf Dero and women police station incharge Yasura Abro raided his house on Aug 24, and arrested Gohram Khan, Hussain Bakhsh, Ms Hanifan, Ms Sihat Khatoon and the minor, Allah Bachaee. They were kept at different police stations.

When additional registrar of the court paid a surprise visit to the women police station, he found the two women and minor detained there.

There was no evidence with the police, except against the two — Hanifan and Sihat Khatoon. The baby was released then and there.

The incharge of women police station in her statement alleged that the SHO had under threat obtained her signatures for keeping the baby in custody, to save himself.

The division bench observed that the SHO had transgressed his authority and kept the baby in illegal confinement for three days.

It also ordered the police official to paying Rs40,000 fine to the heirs of Allah Bachaee within 30 days.