January 04, 2008	Friday	Zilhaj 24, 1428

DADU, Jan 3: The government offices and banks remained closed here on Thursday.

After the assassination of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto, branches of NBP, UBL, ABL, HBL, Khushhali Bank, Provincial Cooperative Bank, National Savings Centre had been damaged by rioters.

While offices of the district and taluka nazims, public health engineering, agricultural, excise and taxation departments, district accounts, DCO, EDO finance, three Utility Stores, all Hesco offices, EDO health, education, regional director office of the ombudsman, assistant election commissioner offices and 20 vehicles and public property worth over one billion had been burnt in the recent acts of vandalism.

Due to the widespread closure people were facing great hardships.

The offices of the DCO and district nazim were still not functional. The payment of salaries to employees was also not made.

Prices of food items had gone up, severely affecting poor people.

The army and police have started raids at various places and arrested many people and recovered looted items from their possession.

Talking to Dawn Dadu SHO inspector Mohammad Ayoub Brohi said that police raided at village Dano Chandio, Dodani Jamali and some other places and arrested 20 people and recovered looted items from their possession.

The army team led by colonel Amjad visited affected shops, government and private properties to assess the losses.

District nazim of Dadu Karim

Ali Jatoi speaking at a press conference said that district government had started a survey of damage and loss in the district.

He said that compensation would be paid to the affected people.

He said he was in contact with the caretaker Sindh minister concerned for paying of compensation to affected people.

He said the police had been asked to register FIRs against miscreants.

One affected businessman, Iqbal, said unknown criminals had attacked his shop in Dadu city and looted electronic items worth Rs3 million.