THE investigation into the Shahzeb murder case took an important turn on Saturday when police claimed the arrest of Siraj Talpur, the main suspect, along with an unspecified number of other suspects.

According to police, Siraj Talpur was taken into custody after raids by a joint police team in Hyderabad, Dadu, Moro and Naushahro Feroze.

He was shifted to Karachi later in the day.

The joint police team comprised squads from Karachi, Hyderabad and Dadu.

According to a report submitted by the Sindh police chief to the Supreme Court’s Karachi registry, four suspects, including Siraj Talpur, were arrested during the raids.

Shahzeb, son of a DSP, was shot dead near his house in Karachi’s Defence Housing Society on Dec 25 allegedly by Shahrukh Jatoi, son of Sikander Jatoi. Shahrukh is stated to have fled to Dubai.

Shahzeb was murdered reportedly after he had an altercation with suspect Talpur, whose servant had allegedly given verbal threats to the victim’s sister.

Having taken suo motu notice of the murder on Jan 1, the Chief Justice of Pakistan on Friday directed Sindh’s inspector general of police to submit a progress report within 24 hours.

The progress report stated that three officials of Karachi’s Darakhshan police station, including the SHO, had been suspended while area DSP Waseem Khawaja was transferred.

SHELTER TO TALPUR: Talking to Dawn on telephone, Dadu SSP Usman Ghani Siddiqui said police got a tip-off that Ubid Jatoi had given shelter to Siraj Talpur and a number of unidentified suspects.

He said the joint police team conducted raid on a place in Deparcha, Naushahro Feroze district, at 11am and arrested Ubid Jatoi. Then at 2 pm, police raided a house in Dadu’s Shahani Mohalla and arrested Siraj Talpur, he added.

The SSP refused to identify the others taken into custody.

Police sealed off major roads and streets before carrying out raids in Dadu.