KHAIRPUR, Dec 21: The people of Khairpur spent a sleepless night on Saturday due to rumours about an earthquake hitting the region.

People in Khairpur city and other parts of the district were informed through calls and SMS on their cellphones that an earthquake might hit the district.

Out of fear, some people spent the entire night outside their houses in extreme cold. Sindhi TV channels kept on rejecting rumours but to little effect.

IEELGAL DETENTION: The civil judge of Gambat raided the Mehmood Channa police station in the kutcha area on Saturday and freed three illegally detained villagers.

The raid was conducted on the directive of the district and sessions judge of Khairpur. The civil judge found Mumtaz Maitlo, Abdul Karim Maitlo, Aman Maitlo and Ali Hassan Marri in detention though there was no record about them at the police station.

The villagers told the judge that police had kept them at different police stations before shifting them to the Mehmood Channa police station.

The Mehmood Channa SHO said that Mumtaz Maitlo was required in some cases registered with the Ahmedpur police. Mumtaz Mailto was handed over to the Ahmedpur police and the three others were freed.