September 22, 2008	Monday	Ramazan 21, 1429

MIRPURKHAS, Sept 21: Demonstrations were held in Umerkot and strike was observed in Ghulam Nabi Shah town on Saturday to protest against police failure to recover three kidnapped traders belonging to a minority community

Khushhal Das was kidnapped from Nabisar road six days ago and Thal Ram and Vikram were kidnapped from near from Naokot town about three months ago.

Markets and bazaars remained closed in Ghulam Nabi Shah. Members of Malhi community and activists of the Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party and other organizations staged demonstrations at the Nara Canal bridge and Suriah Badshah Chowk in Umerkot.

Hundreds of protesters, led by Javed Mangrio, Chetan Malhi and Comrade Sagar Malhi, raised slogans against the police and called upon the government to take notice of police failure to recover the kidnap victims.

Speaking to the protesters, local Pakistan People’s Party leader Lekhraj Mal Malhi, Rasool Bux Ahmadani, Kobhomal, Mukesh, Jairam Das and others called upon the Sindh chief minister, provincial police officer, Hyderabad regional police officer and Mirpurkhas DIG to take notice of the matter and ensure release of the kidnapped people.

ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTION: Land mafia has started illegal construction to occupy a piece of state land adjacent to Railway Employees Housing Society on Hyderabad road in Deh 109 of Mirpurkhas taluka.