DADU, July 24: A large number of primary school teachers and other people took out a procession and observed a token hunger strike in Mehar town on the third day on Sunday in protest against an incident in which the guards of an MNA beat up a teacher and paraded him naked in a village six days ago.

Saleem Raza Khoso of the Primary Teachers Association (PTA) said the MNA and his men had been infuriated by the refusal of Masood Ahmed Mahesar, executive director of the Research Development Foundation, to give them paddy seed, fertiliser and ration meant for people affected by flood.

The guards picked up Masood’s uncle Noor Ahmed Mahesar from his house in Garhi Mahesar village, beat him up, forced him to strip naked and made him walk in the streets of the village, he said.

Mr Khoso called upon President Asif Zardari to direct the authorities concerned to lodge an FIR against the MNA and his guards.

Aijaz Chandio, another PTA leader, said that although people of Mehar had voted for the PPP they were being insulted and victimised.

He said they would continue their protest till an FIR was registered against the culprits.

Shaian Gorar of Awami Jamhoori Party, Ghazi Khan of the Masjid School Teachers Association, Sattar Kalhoro of Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz and Tariq Chandio of Jeay Sindh Mahaz visited the hunger strike camp and expressed solidarity with the protesters.

The MNA concerned could not be contacted.