HYDERABAD, Sept 1: The Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit bench, here on Wednesday directed the DPO of Sanghar to hold an inquiry into disappearance of 117 peasants , including women, after a police officer informed it that he had visited the land of respondent landlords but had not found the peasants there.

Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany issued the order after Ghulamullah Chang advocate, representing the petitioner, requested him to appoint the DPO or the DIG (operation) of Hyderabad region inquiry officer to look into the disappearance of the peasants.

The court directed the DPO to conduct a thorough inquiry and submit a report before the court on Sept 14. On August 28, the court had ordered the SHO concerned to go to the land of respondents Khuda Bux, Mohammad Ismail and Muhammad Aslam with the petitioner and ascertain whether the peasants were present there or in another area and thereafter file his report.

On Wednesday, a sub-inspector of the Khai police station informed the court that he had visited the land but the peasants had not been found. Kanji Kolhi has filed the petition, saying that after migrating from Tharparkar 12 years ago, he with his family members and relatives, reached the Khipro area where they were offered by respondent landlords to cultivate their lands under share system.

He added that they were assured that they would be provided loan, food, medicines and clothing till harvesting of crop. He further said that they cultivated the land where crops of banana, wheat, onion, sugarcane, cotton, and oil-seeds were harvested.

However, he said that the respondent landlords neither provided them loan nor proper food as they were made to live under open sky. Besides, respondent Suleman, Haroon and Mayhan, state managers of the landlords, committed excesses against them.

The petitioner said that for redressal of grievances, he approached the authorities including the area SHO but to no avail. Respondent landlords got annoyed with him and appointed armed guards to check movement of the peasants who virtually became detainees.

The guards also started harassing and maltreating them to prevent them from putting up any demand before landlords and also subjected them to forced labour for which they were not paid anything.

Petitioner said that he managed to escape from the land and was in hiding, adding that he made a complaint to the regional police officer of Hyderabad but no action had been taken.

The respondent landlords were now demanding a huge amount for releasing the detainees which was impossible for them to pay. He said that lives and honour of the detainees was in danger and they might be murdered, kidnapped or sold.

He prayed the court to order a surprise raid on the land of respondent landlords in Deh Goreeto, Khipro taluka, for recovery and production of detainees before it.

He also sought registration of an FIR against the respondents and payment of a compensation of Rs100,000 to them. The council of respondent landlords claimed that the petition had been filed to avoid payment of dues against some peasants who, after settling their accounts, had left the land, whereas others had fled without settling the accounts.