SUKKUR, Aug 15: Police resorted to aerial firing and baton charge to disperse enraged protesters who were protesting against forcible ejection from their houses situated at Katcha Bunder along with the River Indus here on Tuesday.

The irrigation officials along with the bulldozers reached at Katcha Bunder to demolish the houses, constructed at the right bank of the Indus, inside Bunder Wall.

On seeing the irrigation officials, hundreds of residents wielding wooden sticks came out of their houses, challenged the irrigation officials and forced them to flee. Later, the enraged protesters burnt tyres and blocked Bunder Road for two hours, while chanting slogans against the irrigation officials.

In the meantime, a heavy contingent of police reached at the scene and warned the protesters to end the blockade, but the protesters refused.

On this the police resorted to baton charge, as a result of which ten persons were injured whose names could not be ascertained. Afterwards an angry mob attacked the policemen who resorted to aerial firing and baton charged the protesters.

DSP Manzoor Ahmed Sangri also rushed to the scene and negotiated with the protesters assuring them that they would be provided with an alternative place to shift.

On this the protesters demanded a space having all the basic amenities, as they were having all the civic amenities including, electricity, gas, telephone and water connections in their present locality.

Protesters said that they were residing in this locality since last 50 years and were having electricity, telephone, gas and water connections and they would never vacate their houses.