NAWABSHAH, Nov 2: About 400 Rangers and police personnel launched a joint operation in the Sukhpur forest in Daulatpur here on Tuesday to reclaim 1,500 acres of forest land from illegal occupation.

According to forest officials, the land is in illegal possession of the Rinds, Bughios, Syeds and others.

Divisional forest officer Anwar Baloch said about 80,900 acres of forest land had been encroached upon by criminals and influential landlords in different forests of the district, including Sukhpur, Pai, Nasiri, K.T.Jurio, Mari Jalbani and Lakhat.

The Sindh government has ordered the operation at the behest of some ministers which will be extended to other forests after Sukhpur. The operation is being supervised by Indus Rangers commandant Col Zameer Khan, DPO Rustam Jatoi, DCO Asadullah Darejo and forests conservator Mohammad Umer Memon.

Reliable sources told this correspondent that the law-enforcement agencies' personnel set kutcha houses ablaze and standing crop was also destroyed during the operation. Some tube-wells in the area were also removed.

The area is in the grip of tension for 15 days as one person has been killed in a clash between Rind and Bughio tribesmen over encroachment of the forest land.

Rinds are being backed by former MPA Inayat Ali Rind of the People's Party Parliamentarians whereas Bughios by former minister Khan Mohammad Dahri of the Pakistan Muslim League.

Meanwhile, Inayat Ali, while talking to journalists, protested against the operation and said about 20 Rind tribesmen, including Sheral, Badal, Syed Mohammad Shah, had been arrested. He said their standing crop over 300 acres of land had also been destroyed.

He said he had assured the administration of cooperation but regretted that a one-sided operation was being carried out.

DCO Asadullah Dharejo said the operation had been launched on directives of the Sindh chief minister. He said local people had been warned prior to the operation but they had not vacated the government land.

He further said two days had been given to the people for cutting of their standing crops.

DPO Rustam Jatoi denied the arrest of any person and said police would act without any discrimination.

The forests conservator, Hyderabad division, told this correspondent a massive operation had been launched with the help of the district administration and the Indus Rangers for reclaiming 1,500 acres of forest land in Sukhpur.

He said the land was in possession of Khoso, Bughio and Rind tribesmen since long.

He said 30 tube-wells had been removed and 151 huts demolished in the operation.

The official said a similar operation would be carried out in other forests before Eid.

Local residents, including Arz Mohammad Rind, Gul Mohammad Allah Bux, Hakimzadi, Ramzan and others alleged that officials misbehaved with womenfolk and also tortured children. They said their huts and wheat and other produce were reduced to ashes.

They said the operation was being carried out on the directive of a former minister and an influential landlord of the area.

They demanded that higher authorities should provide them with justice.