KHAIRPUR, Oct 4: A PML-F activist died after police tortured him during a raid on the Dodo Khaskheli village near here early on Thursday morning, according to relatives and colleagues.

Enraged relatives and activists of the PML-F and Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz brought the body of Altaf Khaskheli, 30, to the National Highway near Ranipur and demonstrated on the road.

Ghous Bux Khaskheli, father of the late Altaf, told journalists that when police entered his nephew’s house, Altaf went there to talk to them. But they did not listen to him and tortured him to death, he said.

Khairpur SSP Irfan Baloch denied that Altaf’s death was caused by torture and said he had died of a heart attack. There was no mark of torture on his body nor was there any bullet mark, he argued.

In spite of that, he said, he had issued directives to lodge a case against the SHO of Thari Mirwah and other policemen who raided the village, and formed an inquiry committee led by ASP Gambat to probe the incident.

The protesters demonstrated on the highway for about six hours and ended the protest after ASP Gambat assured them of lodging an FIR against the SHO and other policemen.