August 20, 2003	Wednesday	Jumadi-us-Sani 21, 1424

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DADU, Aug 19: Residents of 10 villages of Khairpur Nathan Shah taluka held a demonstration on the Indus Highway on Tuesday, resulting in suspension of vehicular traffic for three hours.

Led by Mohammad Hashim Abro and Ali Nawaz Abro, the residents were protesting against Hesco officials for disconnecting the power supply to Noor Mohammad Abro, Faqir Mohammad Birhamani, Rab Nawaz Abro, Pir and six other villages.

Leaders of the protesters said they were paying their bills regularly yet they were being issued inflated bills. On their refusal to pay the higher bills, the officials disconnected the power supply to their villages, they added.

They demanded action against the officials involved in these excesses and restoration of the power supply to the villages.

The Hesco officials arrived at the spot with a heavy contingent of the police and tried to disperse the protesters. A scuffle also took place between the officials and the residents after they refused to end the demonstration.

Later, the police baton-charged the demonstrators, injuring five villagers. The condition of one of the injured, Punhal Abro, was said to be critical.

Our Shikarpur correspondent adds: The villagers of Rustam and adjoining villages held a demonstration outside the Hesco office here on Tuesday against the unannounced loadshedding and issuance of inflated bills.

The protesters demanded an end to the loadshedding and inflated bills. They also urged the Hesco authorities to take action against the line superintendent who was reportedly involved in committing these excesses.