LARKANA, May 12: The three police teams constituted to arrest the killers of a TV reporter, his brother and friend have failed to lay hands on the accused nominated in the FIR.

Aurangzeb Tunio, reporter of a popular Sindhi news channel stationed in Lalurounk town, his brother Rustum Tunio and friend Deedar Khaskheli were shot dead by 20 armed men in the TV channel office on May 10.

Talking to Dawn, SSP of Qambar-Shahdadkot district Captain (retd) Azfar Mahisar said police would begin a crackdown on Sunday to arrest the assailants nominated in the FIR.

Three teams headed by the DSP of Warah, the DSP of Nasirabad and the in-charge of CIA had been tasked to probe into the triple murder case, he said.

Police had rounded up 40 suspects involved in firing at police and looting shops in Lalurounk; they were being grilled, the SSP said.

Barkat Tunio, brother of the slain journalist, has lodged an FIR with Wagan police station against 14 accused – including Attaullah Mugheri, Nang Mugheri, Jani, Ashiq, Sikandar, Sagheer and Mubarak.

DIG of Larkana range Saeen Rakhyo Meerani on Saturday visited the bereaved family and offered fateha for the departed souls.

He held out assurance that killers would be arrested.

Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz acting chairman Dr Niaz Kalani, leaders Saghar Haneef Burdi and Maqsood Qureshi and PLM-N leader Imdad Cholyani reached the town and offered condolence with the family of the killed journalist.

Reporter’s family accused members of the Mugheri clan of committing the crime.

Sources said a girl from the Mugheri clan had eloped with a youth belonging to the Tunio community a few days ago, causing strained relations between the Tunios and Mughiris and the killings was the result of that incident.