LAHORE, Jan 3: The post-mortem report of deceased Hadyara SHO Muhammad Arshad confirmed more than 12 bruises on the body and declared two of them, inflicted with blunt weapon(s), as death cause.

Police are still searching for the village residents who were ‘directly involved’ in the attack.

A senior police investigator told Dawn that the autopsy report suggested that the SHO succumbed to the blunt weapon injuries and there was a remote possibility that his death occurred after he was hit by a vehicle.

As many as 21 people have been nominated in the FIR while 50 others were unidentified.

He said police had so far taken nine of the nominated accused, including five women, in custody while nine others had been picked on suspicion. The nine unidentified suspects would have to go through the process of identification parade, he added.

The investigator said the police were focusing on identification and arrest of those who instigated the villagers to attack the SHO with sticks and stones.

Meanwhile, scores of residents of Govind village and some adjacent localities led by People’s Party MNA Tariq Bashir Mayo lodged a protest at the village against police raids for the arrest of suspects.

Heavy police contingents barred the protesters from converging outside the Lahore Press Club and the Governor’s House.

The protesters alleged that police were entering their houses and manhandling ‘innocent’ people.

Meanwhile, on behalf of IGP Javed Iqbal, CCPO Ahmad Raza Tahir and DIG Operation Ghulam Mehmood Dogar presented cheque worth Rs3 million to the family of the deceased SHO during their visit to his hometown Nankana.

Nankana Sahib DPO Dr Haider Ashraf laid floral wreaths on the SHO’s grave on the behalf of the IGP.

The CCPO offered Fateha for the martyred inspector and offered his deepest condolences to the family members of the deceased. Mr Tahir said Lahore police was proud of those officers who laid down their lives for the protection of life and property of the masses.

The CCPO assured the family that culprits would soon be apprehended and awarded exemplary punishment.

He also issued on the spot orders for recruitment of a son or a brother of the martyred SHO in the police department.