HYDERABAD, June 7: A large number of people of Kotri, under the banner of the Defence Council, staged a protest demonstration outside the press club here on Saturday against excesses of the police.

Later, speaking at a news conference at the press club here on Saturday, leaders of the Defence Council, Sojhro Sindhi, Qaim Channa, Gul Mohammad Brohi, Mohammad Yaqoob Brohi and Hakim Bhidro, condemned the police for committing excesses against political rivals of District Nazim Malik Asad Sikandar. They said the devolution of power plan had given a free hand to the police to harass people at the behest of the district government.

They said they had submitted petitions and sent telegrams to higher authorities against the atrocities of the police but they had taken no notice of the matter.

They warned that the residents would protest if the police continued their excesses.