DADU, March 18: A shutter-down strike was observed in Bhan Saeedabad on Thursday against the murder of a villager allegedly by police and Hesco officials three days back.

The villager, Mehrab Panhwar, had been killed in a clash when Hesco officials and police came to the Sharif ja Bhan village, Sehwan, to remove a transformer.

A large number of people, including shopkeepers and villagers from surrounding areas, held a protest demonstration on the Indus Highway from 9am to 4pm.

Led by Dal Union Council Nazim Aftab Ahmad Shahani, Naib Nazim Zulfiqar Panhwar and Bhan Citizens' Action Committee president Wahid Bux Memon, the protesters demanded immediate arrest of the accused.

Talking to the protesters, Mr Shahani accused police of killing Mehrab Panhwar on the instigation of Hesco officials. He alleged that Hesco and police officials removed the transformer after the villagers refused to pay them bribe.

He said following protest by the villagers, police registered an FIR against SDO Nisar Ahmad Gadhi, inspector Yaqoob Buriro and other Hesco and police officials but they had not been arrest them.

The villagers ended their protest after the DPO, operation, Ali Akbar Bhangwar, assured them that the accused nominated in the FIR would be arrested in three days. Meanwhile, the DPO, operation, suspended inspector Buriro, ASI Gul Mohammad Solangi and head constable Ishaq Mangnejo on the charge of killing the villager.

ARRESTED: The Khairpur Nathan Shah police arrested two bandits on the Indus Highway on Thursday.