BADIN, Aug 10: A complete strike was observed in Tando Ghulam Ali on Friday to protest against the police for implicating PPP MPA Mir Babu Talpur, his manager Mir Fayaz and nine others in criminal cases.

The Tando Ghulam Ali police have registered a case under section 506/2, 363, 353, 341, 109, 147, 148 and 149, PPC, against the manager of the MPA and others for allegedly kidnapping Hesco officials Ashraf Arain, Usman Kumbhar, Liaquat Rajput and holding six others hostage at the instigation of the MPA. The Hesco officials and recovery staff were reportedly harassed when they tried to remove a transformer from the farmland of Mr Talpur.

Shops and bazaars remained closed in the town. Activists of the People’s Party Parliamentarians, Sindh People’s Students Federation and Citizens Action Committee took out a rally against Hesco and the police. The enraged workers burnt tyres on main roads and roundabouts of the town, leading to suspension of vehicular traffic to Mithi, Matli, Badin and other towns. The protesters were demanding withdrawal of the case.

To control the situation, heavy contingents of police were called from neighbouring towns.

MPA Talpur told journalists that on the instigation of his political rivals, false and baseless case had been registered against him and the PPP workers. He said that a few weeks ago such false case was registered against Tando Bago union council nazim Dilbar Sindhi. SDO, Hesco, Badin, Ghulam Qadir Pathan told journalists that Rs3.4 million was outstanding against the MPA in connection with the tube-wells and the MPA was a defaulter of Rs200,000 regarding domestic consumption.

Rally against Hesco:Widespread and prolonged power failure in Golarchi and adjoining 70 villages forced the suffering consumers to take out a rally in Golarchi. They were demanding immediate restoration of power supply and an end to power outages. The protesters said that for the last three days, 70 villages were without electricity and accused the Hesco officials of refusing to repair faulty installations.