Police on Friday arrested four people, including two police personnel, for running a 'torture cell' in which they held people after kidnapping them for ransom.

A special team led by Sukkur DIG Feroze Shah arrested four suspects, including police officials Mohammad Jawed Khero and Naeem Ahmed, during a raid in Rohri.

However, the ringleader and in-charge of the 'torture cell', former sub-inspector Ayaz Khero managed to flee during the raid. Khero had been dismissed from the police service over allegations of corruption and extortion, police told Dawn.

The suspects used to kidnap people in the guise of checking from Sukkur and other areas and later locked them up in the torture cell.

DIG Shah said the accused stopped three chartered accountancy students who were on their way to Islamabad from Quetta and took them to the torture cell along with their car before confining them in the torture cell.

The three students were released after receiving Rs1 million from their families as ransom, Shah said, adding that the men were dropped off near the Punjab border under police watch so that they couldn't lodge a complaint in Sindh.

Upon receiving reports of this incident, a raid was carried out in Rohri to arrest the suspects. A case has been registered of the incident and an inquiry is ongoing, the DIG said.

DIG Shah said Ayaz Khero, who belongs to Matiari, was dismissed after being found guilty of corruption and extortion. He said constable Mohammad Jawed Khero is stationed in Matiari and has been running an illegal torture cell while wearing an ASI uniform.

Home minister takes notice

Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Sial took notice of the news regarding running of a torture cell by a dismissed police inspector, a statement issued by his office said.

Sial has appointed Additional IG Special Branch Dr Waliullah Dal to conduct an immediate inquiry into the revelation and submit a report.