BADIN, July 12: On the call of Taluka Growers’ Action Committee, hundreds of farmers reached here on tractors and trolleys and marched half a kilometre on the main highway. They were protesting against shortage of water and registration of cases against growers. They demanded that an impartial inquiry be hold into the matter.

The vehicular traffic remained suspended from 11am to 6pm.

Passengers faced hardships as they remained stranded for over six hours.

Most of the women and children left vehicles and preferred to reach their destinations by foot.

Leaders of the farmers Hanif Khaskheli, Ramzan Chawaro and Aurangzeb Talpur said the irrigation department and Sida officials were creating artificial shortage of water and implicating growers in false cases.

It may be recalled that Sida director Agha Aijaz Ahmed had registered a case against Papoo Talpur, Imtiaz Talpur and 15 others for allegedly attacking a Sida director.

MPA Dr Sikandar Mandhro joined the growers’ protest and chief minister’s adviser Ghulam Murtaza Memon expressed solidarity with the protesters.