SUKKUR, July 21: Four policemen, including the in-charge of the Choondko judicial lockup, were arrested on Thursday for their alleged involvement in the killing of eight people near Kandhra. DPO Aftab Halepoto told Dawn that along with four policemen, six main accused who took refuge in the judicial lockup of Choondko were also arrested.

Sources said in all seven policemen were allegedly involved in the conspiracy but the police not disclosed the names of the others so that they could not escape.

According to the DPO those arrested are: ASI Ghulam Shabbir Panhyar, Head Constable Mir Mohammad Shar, judicial in-charge Mohammad Bux Shar, and police constable Jan Mohammad.

According to the sources, all the seven policemen allegedly involved in the conspiracy were posted at the Gadawa police out post of Choondko police station.

The seven policemen under a conspiracy booked the main accused in different criminal cases and locked them in the judicial lockup.

Those kept in judicial lockup include Umeed Ali, Ghous Bux, Dost Mohammad, Rafiq Ahmed, Saleem, and Shamsuddin.

On Wednesday morning, the policemen released the accused from the lockup after which they came near Kandhra and killed eight people in an ambush.

Later, they returned back to the judicial lockup and took refuge there.

Mr Halepoto said the matter was unearthed and police started raids to arrest other culprits including the policemen and the killers.

He said the arrested policemen would also be nominated in the same case of killing.

Earlier, the case was registered against 20 people following the killing of eight people near Kandhra.

On the complaint of Lal Bux Shambhani, the Kandhra police registered FIR (33/2005) against 20 accused under section 302, 324, 114, 148, 945 PPC and 7 ATC, 1997.

Those booked include, Rafiq, Umeed Ali, Ghous Bux, Rasheed, Bachal, Shamsuddin alias Shamoo, Aslam, Talib, Maula Bux, Mohammad Bachal, Adam Khan, Ahmed, Rehman, Qadroo, Sanaullah, Ali Gohar, Shimroz, Lajoo and Bahawal, all Shambhani by caste.