MIRPURKHAS, July 20: Villagers demonstrated in Jhuddo town on Friday in protest against disconnection of power supply to their villages three days ago on the charge of non-payment of bills.

The protesters from over a dozen villages, including Rasheed Qambo, Meva Khoso, Bhai Khan Pitafi, Khair Mohammad Mugheri, Sher Mohammad Qambo, Ismail Qambo and Dost Mohammad Otho, complained that Hesco authorities had issued inflated bills for the period when their area was under floodwater and they had moved to other places.

They accused Hesco of issuing inflated bills to hide line losses and power theft and said they had submitted several written complaints to the authorities concerned for correction of the bills but none was ready to listen to them.

They regretted that Hesco had finally disconnected power supply to their homes for non-payment of the inflated bills. They urged Hesco chief to take immediate notice of the matter, restore power supply to their villages and issue correct bills.

Our Sukkur correspondent adds: Shehri Ittehad Ghotki took out a procession in Ghotki town on Friday in protest against loadshedding and spread of ‘Akra Parchi’ gambling in different areas of the town.

Workers of different political and social organisations and other people participated in the procession led by Shehri Ittehad chairman Raees Allah Wasayo Ghoto and Qaisar Zaman Pathan.

Shehri Ittehad leaders said that duration of loadshedding had been increased in Ghotki and adjoining areas. Gambling through Akra Parchi was in full swing in the town which had trapped many people, especially youths, but police were not taking any action against the parchi peddlers.

They accused police officials of getting a share from owners of Akra Parchi racket and protecting them. They demanded an end to long hours of unscheduled loadshedding and the illegal gambling.