SANGHAR, June 3: The growers whose lands lie at the tail-end of Sarhal Branch blocked Sanghar-Khipro road on Tuesday in protest against shortage of water, and accused the irrigation officials of selling off their share of water to influential farmers.

The protesters said that no water had reached the tail-end of the canal for last 40 days. They had visited the SDO’s office several times and informed him of the problem but to no avail, they said.

They said that May 30 was the last date for sowing cotton after which it would be too late. So far, they had hardly sown two to five per cent cotton, they complained.

They threatened that if water did not reach the tail-end within two days, they would take over control of the head works, and demanded deployment of Rangers along the canal to check water theft by big landlords in connivance with irrigation officials.

ROBBERY: Bandits attacked makeshift huts of snake charmers near Chak No.22 in Sinjhoro area on Tuesday, beat up women and children and deprived them of whatever cash and jewellery they had before escaping.