THATTA: A mob struck at the scenic site of Chilya Point near Keenjhar Lake on Tuesday evening and posed stiff resistance to the anti-encroachment operation that was to be supervised by the assistant commissioner and mukhtiarkar of Thatta.

The mob held the two officials and members of the demolition squad hostage for some time during which they were manhandled and forced to leave the site.

The episode unfolded when the officials along with the demolition staff and machinery arrived at Chilya Point and tried to pull down a huge hoarding. The demolition squad was sent to the site by Thatta Deputy Commissioner Usman Tanveer and led by AC Fida Hussain Jatoi and mukhtiarkar Iqtada Hussain Behrani.

The operation was meant to retrieve the state-owned land where the picnic point was developed allegedly by a feudal lord of the area who planned to further build the site as a recreation spot and amusement park.

As soon as the demolition squad started its work, a club-wielding mob using half-a-dozen women as shield emerged there and surrounded the officials and the squad. The mob caught hold of the AC and mukhtiarkar and warned the team to leave the site. During a heated argument, the officials and members of the squad were manhandled and forcibly pushed out of the site.

The victims walked to the Keenjhar police station and asked the SHO to register an FIR but he refused to book anyone involved in the incident.

Later, residents of nearby villages took to the streets of Thatta and held a protest at the Karachi-Thatta section of the National Highway.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2021