HYDERABAD, Sept 24: The district council on Thursday demanded that the director-general of the Pakistan Rangers and Sindh irrigation authorities should take action against the Rangers personnel who had illegally detained a member of the council , Ghulam Hussain Magsi, and his three relatives.

The council approved a report submitted by a three-member committee about a raid conducted by Rangers on the land of Mr Magsi. The committee was set up by convener Nawab Rashid Ali Khan during the budget session after Mr Magsi had raised the issue that his land had been raided by Rangers and irrigation officials on fabricated charges of water theft.

The committee comprised Miran Mohammad Shah, Khalil Memon and Aijaz Shah Bukhari. The report said that Mr Magsi owned 550 acres land along three watercourses of the Shorki minor of the Akram Wah and only 50 acres were currently under cultivation due to an acute water shortage in Sindh.

The members noted that the watercourse No-23R was closed for six months while after physical measurement it was found that water flow was much less than what was sanctioned.

The report said Mr Magsi was getting less share then the approved one for his land and charges of tampering of watercourses were incorrect. How a grower can be booked for water theft when he was getting water less than his sanctioned share, it asked.

Discussing the report, Rana Mehmood Ali, said Rangers were the main culprit in messing up Sindh's irrigation system. He said they were deployed on canals for political reasons.

Rauf Jafri, Q. Hakim, Majeed Wahidi and Shaukat Kaimkhani said that report be sent to the Sindh chief secretary through the district nazim for taking up the matter with authorities concerned.

They said ever since Rangers were deployed complaints about highhandedness had increased. They said if Rangers had committed excesses then they should tender apology to the council member.

Ghulam Hussain Magsi said he was punished by Rangers because he always opposed Kalabagh dam and greater Thal canal in the council.