LARKANA, Oct 13: SHOs of Sujawal and Sanjar Bhatti police stations appeared before the sessions court here on Tuesday in connection with a petition filed by a villager alleging harassment and illegal detention by police.

Both the police officers, denying the charges, said that they had no knowledge of detaining the relatives of petitioner Qamaruddin Chandio. Pleading on behalf of the petitioner, Habibullah Ghauri said that five villagers, including women and children, were still in the police custody.

Though the charge was denied, the court directed the officers to release the villagers immediately. They were also directed not to harass, raid the petitioner's house or make arrests.

The SHO of the Shahdadkot police station did not turn up on the date as he was allegedly injured in an accident near Leiha in Punjab on Monday. The court adjourned the case till Oct 21.

'BANDIT' KILLED: Police on Wednesday claimed to have killed a notorious bandit and arrested two others in an injured condition after an encounter which lasted for an hour near the Hamal lake flood protective bund in the Gaibidero police area.

A police team chasing outlaws after they had snatched a motorcycle from Amjad Abro challenged them near the bund. The police and armed men traded fire resulting into injuries to three alleged motorcycle snatchers. They were identified as Jalal Guramani, Qurban Guramani and Rabnawaz Gaibani. Jalal Guramani died while being taken to the Chandka Medical College hospital.