NAWABSHAH, March 22: A heavy contingent of police other and law-enforcement personnel on Wednesday arrested nine people after a raid on the New Gul Baig Mari village, Taluka Daur. Six of them were later released. Reports said police, who came in about 12 to 14 mobile vans with personnel of law-enforcement agencies besieged the village and arrested the nine people, Khair Mohammad Mari, Saifullah, Ameer Ali, Zafar Ali, Irfan Mari, Mumtaz Brohi, Haji Brohi, and Farid.

Sources said the arrested persons might have links with groups fighting the army in Balochistan. Police released six a few hours after arrest but took three, Khair Mohammad Mari, Saifullah, Ameer Ali to an undisclosed place for interrogation, sources added.

When contacted, TPO Nawabshah Aijaz Tareen denied the raid on village and arrests, but Juma Khan Mari, cousin of arrested Khair Mohammad Mari insisted the raid did take place in the morning and police had three of his relatives under arrest.