UMERKOT: A police officer, ASI Ali Sher Samejo, was placed under suspension after the mobile van he was driving hit a motorcycle and seriously injured its rider during a chase near Rohal Wah (irrigation channel) in the city on Sunday.

ASI Samejo had visited the family of the victim, Allah Bachaywo Mangrio, soon afterwards to apologise over the incident. He told them that the police team riding the mobile van had signalled Mangrio to stop but he tried to speed away. Accordingly, he added, the police team chased him but the speeding van accidentally hit the motorcycle which left Mangrio seriously injured.

Mangrio, who is an activist of the Pakistan Peoples Party, was rushed to the Umerkot District Headquarters Hospital for treatment.

Local reporters claimed that the police van dragged Mangrio to about 200 feet from the point where the motorcycle was hit.

His family said Mangrio was returning home after buying vegetables from a shop within the neighbourhood when his bike was hit by the police van.

Upon receiving the information, Sindh Minister for Education Syed Sardar Shah took notice of the incident and directed the authorities concerned to ensure afairinvestigation.

Umerkot SSP Uzair Ahmed Memon placed ASI Samejo under suspension and appointed the City DSP to conduct an inquiry into the matter.-Correspondent