MITHI, Dec 5: Protest rallies have been held in Mithi and Diplo towns by activists of different social organizations against alleged criminal assault on a minor girl near the Vingar village, Diplo taluka.

The protesters were carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans demanding justice for the victim and action against the accused. Speaking at the rally in Diplo, Abdur Rehman Otho, Lal Mohammad and others alleged that some influential people were supporting the accused Raso Thakur.

They warned that the scope of the protest would be enlarged if action was not taken. Speaking at the Mithi rally, Nazim Mohalal, Councillor Amar Udani and others demanded that the accused be brought to justice.

Meanwhile, a delegation of people, led by the PPP leader Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani, met the girl and her relatives at the Mithi Civil Hospital and expressed sympathy with them.

The girl's father, Mohammad Ramzan, told this correspondent that relatives and henchmen of the accused were pressurising him and his relatives to withdraw the case. However, Tharparkar District Naib Nazim Ramsingh Sodho said some vested interests were accusing influential people of protecting the accused but he had been handed over to police.