RAWALPINDI, Nov 21: The investigators probing into killing of four security men and a civilian took five police officials into custody on Monday.

The men who were killed during an unsuccessful attempt to catch the leader of the outlawed Lashkar-i-Jhangvi in Pir Chunbbal Pind Dadan Khan left everyone raising eyebrows on the performance of police.

The recent arrests were made on suspicion of having links with terrorist groups, Dawn has learnt.

Of the five cops, three were posted at Pind Dadan Khan police station, while another was associated with security branch whereas the fifth cop was posted at Lillah police station, the source said.

All of the cops taken into custody by the investigators were shifted to Jhelum for further interrogation; the source said and added that the evidences collected so far pointed towards the possibility that the cops were hiding something very important from the investigators.

When the Station House Officer Pind Dadan Khan Sagheer was contacted, he cautiously said that he did not know anything however he said it was his senior officer DSP Saddar Jhelum who was investigating the case.

However, the source said that the three cops taken into custody – Zulfiqar Ali, Mohammad Shahbaz and Jabbar Hussain – were posted at Pind Dadan Khan police station. While Sadaqat Hussain constable was from security branch Jhelum and Zulfiqar Hussain was posted at Lillah police station.

The source said that the three of the cops were also suspended by the DPO, while the remaining were directed to report to the police lines.

A police official requesting anonymity said that the five cops were taken into custody after they refused to hand over their mobile phones to the investigating officers.