Police conducted a crackdown and detained at least 20 people, including women, after they joined a long march against the alleged “extra-judicial killings” by the Counter Terro­rism Department (CTD) in Turbat, media reports said on Tuesday.

According to details, the long march of the Baloch Yakjehti Council (BYC), led by Mohammad Asif Laghari and originating from Balochistan, was intercepted by police on Shah Sikander Road in Dera Ghazi Khan city, reported Dawn News.

The police told the newspaper that the participants of the march resisted, upon which they detained several men and women and transferred them to the police lines.

The women were later released.

ASP City Rehmatullah Durrani told the protesters that Section 144 is in force in the district, prohibiting any procession or rally, a directive the participants refused to obey, reported Dawn News.

Among the protesters, Shaukat Ali, Asif Leghari, Miraj Leghari, Abdullah Saleh, and ten others have been detained, and legal proceedings have been initiated under Section 144, the police told the newspaper.

Action will be taken against the violators under Section 144 of the Criminal Code, and this ban will remain in force till Dec 19, said the police.