HYDERABAD, July 24: The farmers’ vigilance committee of Noori and Mail minor canals on Thursday sought protection against a DSP, who owned land in the area, accusing him of threatening them with dire consequences.

The committee chairman Gul Hassan Khaskheli, vice-chairman Khan Mohammad Kolachi and other office-bearers said at a news conference at the press club that the growers of tail-end channels Noori and Main minors of Tando Adam branch had formed the committee several years ago to protect water share of tail-end growers due to acute shortage of water in the areas for years.

They said that the committee was given official recognition by the irrigation officials and it was converted into a vigilance committee under a notification issued by the executive engineer of Hala division on Jan 23, 2007.

They said that the committee somewhat improved water situation but big landlords continued stealing water and tampering with watercourses. When they raised voice against them, chief engineer of Sukkur Barrage sought Rangers’ help to get the broken watercourses sealed.

The Rangers warned the big landlords and asked them to mend their ways. This greatly annoyed DSP Hameer Bhangwar. One day when they were returning after checking waterways on July 27, he stopped them, misbehaved with the SDO of irrigation Ghulam Rasool Gahoti and the members of the committee.

They alleged that the DSP threatened them with dire consequences and had unleashed his hoodlums on them. They appealed to authorities to provide them protection against the DSP.

HUNGER STRIKE: Leaders of the farmers’ action committee of Massu irrigation sub-division observed a token hunger strike in protest against rotation programme for Rahuki, Husri, Saeed Khan and Miano channels of Hyderabad branch.