April 20, 2008	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 13, 1429

KHAIRPUR, April 19: Sugarcane growers of Sobhodero and Gambat talukas staged protest demonstrations outside the DCO office and the press club here on Saturday.

The growers told reporters that the administration of Ranipur Sugar Mills was not buying sugarcane from them and told them that the mill had stopped purchasing cane.

They said the mill had stopped purchasing about 20-25 days ago, that is before the official closing date.

They said that their sugarcane crop standing over hundreds of acres of land was getting spoiled and they were unable to cultivate other crops on their lands.

Later, they marched up to the press club and also staged a demonstration there.

Speaking on the occasion, the protesters said that they were facing difficulties as the mill administration neither purchasing sugarcane from them nor making payments of sugarcane they had purchased earlier.

They alleged that the mill was purchasing sugarcane from influential landlords and was also paying them on time.

Meanwhile, a large number of farmers staged a protest demonstration against shortage of irrigation water in taluka Sobhodero.

The protesters said that their agricultural lands were getting barren due to non-release of water, especially to the tail-ends of minors and canals since last eight years.

They said that their crops were damaged and they were unable to pay back their loans obtained from the Zarai Taraqiati Bank. They said that the bank administration was also threatening them with arrest for non-payment of bank loans.

COP TORTURED: Some armed men in a car kidnapped police constable Ismail in the jurisdiction of Tando Masti police station on Friday night.

The constable was subjected to torture and was deprived of his official weapon, bullets and other valuables.

Later, the armed men threw him in the jurisdiction of Babarloi police station and escaped.