UMERKOT, Aug 5: Khipro police allegedly manhandled women and picked up six villagers during a raid on Sadhar village near Dhoronaro on Saturday evening.

The raid was conducted for suspects in a case of murder of Abdul Hakeem Arisar. He was recently killed in a clash between two groups of villagers following a land dispute. Lakhmir, Mohammad Ramzan, Abdullah and Akbar Arisar have been nominated in the case.

Lakhmir has been arrested and Mohammad Ramzan and Akbar have been granted bail before arrest by a court.

Akbar Arisar told this correspondent that a police team, led by SHO Nisar, with some local people raided the village. When they failed to arrest any suspect, they barged into the house of Akram Arisar and beat up women, he alleged.

Six women fainted and Ameena, the pregnant wife of Akram, suffered miscarriage. Police picked up Akram, Inayatullah, Mujeeb, Madad Ali, Dodo and Ameer Ali Rajar although they had no connection with the accused, said villagers Abdul Rasheed Arisar and Mohammad Arisar.

They said police had asked them to keep silent otherwise the six would be implicated in serious criminal cases.

They said they had gone to the Dhoronaro police station to register a case against the raiding team but they declined to do so.

When contacted, SSP Abdullah Shaikh admitted that the Khipro police had raided the village and picked up relatives of the accused to exert pressure on them to surrender. However, he rejected the allegation that the police had beaten up women.