March 11, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 2, 1429

KHAIRPUR, March 10: The relatives have confirmed that two date traders, Railu Mal of Khairpur and Nadu Mal of Therhi, who have gone missing since Saturday evening, have been kidnapped.

A protest meeting was held at the dates market here on Monday in which relatives of Railu Mal and Nadu Mal were also present.

The traders expressed concern over the kidnapping of the two traders and demanded their immediate recovery.

They threatened to observe strike in dates markets of Khairpur and Sukkur if the kidnap victims were not recovered.

The office-bearers of the Hindu Panchayat, Luqman, also have condemned the kidnappings and demanded immediate recovery of the victims.

Meanwhile, the Khairpur police claimed to have recovered three kidnapped people after an encounter on Monday.

According to the police, spy information was received that the armed men were shifting three hostages — Ghulam Rasool, Umeed Ali and Ghulam Mohammad, all Marfani by caste -- from the kutcha area near River Indus.

A heavy contingent of police surrounded the area near Tribandi and an encounter took place which lasted for about half an hour. The dacoits left the kidnap victims and fled. The victims were kidnapped from Pipri Bridge in the Gambat area on March 2.

WATER ROTATION: The executive engineer, Khairpur west division, irrigation department, has announced water rotation programme for 25 minor canals in two groups due to shortage of water in Indus River and less supply available at the head of Khairpur West Canal.

Water level in Indus fell at Guddu Barrage on Monday where upstream flow was recorded at 22,922 cusecs and downstream flow at 20,152 cusecs.

At Sukkur Barrage, upstream flow was 18,735 cusecs and downstream flow at 3,505 cusecs.

There has been a reduction of about 2,000 cusecs in the flow within last two weeks.