MULTAN, March 16: Police arrested over 200 people on Wednesday for attacking the Basti Malook police station and getting a man released from the lock-up after a fierce clash on Tuesday.

Nine people, including three policemen, had been injured in Tuesday's clashes which erupted when police resorted to baton charge a crowd protesting a “false” FIR by the Basti Malook police.

To teach a lesson, the police launched a crackdown on attackers and arrested over 200 of them from their houses in Naurangabad, Wazirabad, Qasba Marral, Chak Faiz 1 Shomali, Chak Faiz 1 Janobi, Billiwala, Zainpur, Kabirpur, Rana Wain and Chak Faiz 4, 5 and 14.

The raids were being conducted under the supervision of SHO Zaheeruddin Babar, the brother-in-law of PML-N MNA Rana Mehmoodul Hassan who is reportedly in the provincial capital and is using his links to influence the issue.

Police said the mob had allegedly freed from the lock-up six accused involved in dacoity and murder cases.

“Panic has gripped the area and the people are shifting their children and the women to other localities as police are conducting raids on houses and are arresting men and humiliating women and children,” a local elder said.

He said the people were helpless as police were under political pressure and wanted to please the MNA. He said the people who had no hand in the incident were also being arrested. He claimed the police had arrested more than 400 people so far.

To punish the people, he said the police fabricated a story that official arms were looted from the police station.

SSP (Operation) Malik Yousaf said three of the 10 accused escaped during the attack on police station on Tuesday had been rearrested while three more would be apprehended soon.

He said the police had registered a case against protesters under the Anti-Terrorism Act while 14 out of 22 nominated accused had been arrested.

The SSP said the police would act strictly against the blocking of roads which had become a nuisance. “No-one will be spared and action is being taken without the consideration of any political affiliation,” he said.

He said looted officials arms had been recovered from protesters during the crackdown which was still continuing. MNA Rana Mehmoodul Hassan said although he was aware of the incident, he had no role in police matters.