June 17, 2002	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 5, 1423

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DADU, June 16: A gang of eight armed men stormed the Wadha Regulator of Dadu Canal sub-division, beat up four irrigation officials and took away communication equipment on Saturday night.

Salahuddin Abbasi, The Executive Engineer of southern division, Dadu, said that the regulator of Sita Irrigation Sub-division, located about 75kms from here, was apparently attacked by cronies of some influential landowners against whom action was taken for tampering with water-courses.

Two of the officials on duty, Ramzan Kandhro and Hadi Bux, sustained multiple injuries and admitted to the Civil Hospital, Dadu, he said.

The attackers had warned that anyone performing duty on this regulator would be killed, he added.

The victims said that the intruders took away wireless sets and other communication equipment installed at the office.

Mr Abbasi complained that the local police did not register a case against the attackers.

He told this correspondent that during a recent survey of the area, a number of water-courses were found tampered with and he had ordered his subordinates to seal them off. Cases were also registered against certain influential landowners in this regard, he added.

Meanwhile, the office bearers of the irrigation employees union have condemned the harassment and intimidation by certain landowners against the irrigation officials and threatened to observe strike if police failed to arrest the culprits.

ROBBERY: A gang of three robbers deprived a feudal lord, Haji Gul Hassan Panhwar, of Rs40,000 and other valuables on Saturday night.

Mr Panhwar was passing through Dadu-Johi link road when intercepted by the armed men near village Essa Panhwar. He offered resistance but was beaten up and injured.

The victim was later admitted to the Civil Hospital, Dadu.

Town police have registered a case against Wazeer Kabooro, Anwar and Muneer Ahmed.