LAHORE The Inspector General of Police Javed Iqbal has warned the police officers not to arrest the relatives of the accused if the person wanted to the police is not found during raids. The IGP has strictly warned the cops that the stringent departmental action would be taken against the policeman found involved in such practice, police sources said on Wednesday. In an official circular issued to all the Regional Police Officers (RPOs) and District Police Officers (DPOs), Punjab police chief Javed Iqbal has directed the police command to take action against the policemen found involved in the malpractice. Sources said that the IGP issued this warning after he received credible reports that policemen frequently arrest some close relatives of the accused during raids if the person wanted to the police in criminal cases, manage to escape or not found. The police are using this tactic to nab the accused persons throughout the Punjab province. The police torture the close relatives of the accused to press the entire family to disclose the whereabouts of the wanted criminal or produce him before them. The policemen also keep the innocent persons in illegal custody for several days to ensure the arrest of the accused. In order to end this practice, the IGP has directed the police officers to take action against the cops and register cases against them if they take the law into their hands, officials added.