MIRPURKHAS, Oct 16: The recently recovered bonded labourers and HRCP activists staged demonstration outside the office of DIG Mirpurkhas on Thursday seeking release of the remaining 152 held from the farm of Thakur Nazir Kaimkhani in Sanghar. Police have recovered 25 people from the farm few days ago.

Protesters led by Kanji Ranomal Bheel, Coordinator, Mirpurkhas Core Group, HRCP, and Nandlal Bheel and carrying banners and placards demanded the DIG to order the release of 152 bonded labourers as they were compelled to work on gunpoint.

Nandlal, Mohan, Poonjo and others told reporters that they were detained at the land of Kaimkhani and worked in fields on force, while their women were criminally assaulted and tortured on showing resistance.

They said that they were working there since last five years and were not allowed to move freely. They alleged that they were also deprived of their share in crops.

They alleged that Kamdar Tulchho Bheel, Momin Shar, Anwar Maher, Ghulam Haider and others had been torturing them for work.

They deplored that Kaimkhani was an influential landlord hence a number of applications sent to higher government functionaries yielded no result except the recent action taken by DIG Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah Jamote who ordered the DPO Sanghar to conduct a raid. Police on raid recovered 25 bonded labours from the land of Kaimkhani, they said.

They said that still 152 bonded labourers, including women and children, were detained at the land of above landlord. They called upon president, prime minister, chief justice of Sindh High Court and Sindh chief minister to take immediate notice and ensure release of detained bonded labourers.