10 July 2004	Saturday	21 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

HYDERABAD, July 9: Two minor girls of a nomad family, at present living in Jamshoro, were allegedly subjected to criminal assaults on Thursday. The girls had gone for begging when they were given some tainted soft drinks.

After they fell unconscious, they were taken to some place where they were subjected to criminal assault. The perpetrators abandoned the unconscious girls near their huts and fled.

Relatives of the girls reported the matter to the Jamshoro police which sent the victims to the Liaquat University Hospital for medical test. Police are waiting for reports of the tests after which a case would be registered.

DEMO: A large number of peasants held a protest demonstration outside the press club here on Friday against a landlord, Dr Ashiq. Talking to newsmen, they said that they had escaped from his private jail in Khahi village, Khipro taluka, one year back. They alleged that on Thursday the henchmen of Dr Tariq hadthreatened them with dire consequences.