NAUSHAHRO FEROZE, June 13: A policeman was handcuffed after registration of a case against him for selling arms and ammunition of the department to criminals.

A case against Mohammad Zaman Khoso, In-charge of the Store (malkhana) at Bhirya City Police Station and four other people to whom he sold arms and ammunition was registered on Tuesday. Names of people involved were Moula Bux Sahito, Arab Khoso, Niaz Khoso and Mohammad Suleman Khoso.

DSP, Bhirya, Ghulam Rasool talking to journalists said that the SSP Javed Jaskani on Tuesday directed him to inspect the store of Bhirya City Police Station where he found only one Kalashnikov, 24 revolvers and six pistols against an official entry of 10 Kalashnikovs, 54 revolvers and 13 pistols. Nine Kalashnikovs, 30 revolvers and seven pistols were found missing from the store.

Khoso confessed to selling the weapons and disclosed the names of purchasers DSP Jaskani said adding that the policeman was arrested and a case was registered against him and four other people.

All district police stations were intimated of the incident whereas the SHO of Taggar Police Station on Wednesday informed him that Moula Bux and other accused were shifting the arms sold to them.

Police immediately came into action and its contingents followed the accused in kutcha area. The accused on sensing the danger that police were after them fled on motorcycles leaving behind a bag containing 100 rounds of Kalashnikov and five pistols. They sped away leaving policemen in lurch as the path was not drivable for heavy vehicles.

Taggar police, after the recovery of arms registered an FIR against Moula Bux Sahto and Mohammad Mosa Sahto, said the DSP and feared similar conditions at other police stations. He said that he would immediately check records of three police stations falling in his jurisdiction.

PROTEST: Villagers of Mirzapur, carrying the slain body of their relative, staged a sit-in at the National Highway against Halani police for recoiling from arresting murders.

Deceased Jalal Sahto died at the Civil Hospital Hyderabad where he was admitted after getting injured by his rivals on Sunday, they said.

Though an FIR was registered by Tahir Hussain Sahto, a relative of the deceased but police were not arresting the accused, they alleged.

On the other hand, a police official Zulfiqar disclosed of arresting 17 accused who were in remand of Naushahro Feroze police.

Meanwhile, police have also arrested nine people nominated in the second FIR registered on the complaint of Nadir Ali Sahto against Yaqoob Sahito and others he said adding they were being kept in the district jail Naushahro Feroze.