MIRPURKHAS, Jan 1: Hundreds of growers took out a protest rally from Jhuddo town to Digri against the acute shortage of water in the town on Tuesday while on the call of the Citizens Action Committee, Taluka Digri, complete strike was observed at Naokot Jhuddo, Digri, Tando Jan Muhammad and Mirwah towns against the water shortage.

All the business centres and bazaars remained closed throughout the day.

Carrying banners and placards, the protesters marched towards Digri town and raised slogans against the irrigation authorities and demanded their due share of water.

The protesters were led by Mir Aijaz Talpur, Aslam Kaim Khani and Qazi Faizullah.

They reached Digri town amidst strict security arrangements as police tried to stop them and resorted to baton charge.

The protesters continued marching towards Mirwah town, which they reached towards the evening.

In Mirwah, a heavy contingent of police had blocked the main road with several police mobiles.

The SSP, Mirpurkhas, Dr Ameer Ahmed Shaikh, the district Nazim, Mirpurkhas, Pir Shafqat Hussain Shah Jilani, and the taluka Nazim, Mirpurkhas, Syed Inayat Ali Shah, held negotiations with the leaders of the protesters.

The protesting growers said that their crops had been completely destroyed and they had even been deprived of drinking water.

The administration including the elected representatives accepted their demands and assured them that drinking water would be provided to them on a priority basis and after the annual closure of the canal for desilting purposes water for their crops would be provided regularly.

LANDLORDS BOOKED: Eight landlords were booked by the Samaro police for stealing water from Nabisar branch on Tuesday.

Darogha Doulat Khaskheli had lodged an FIR with the police against Khato Kolhi, Ghulam M. Kapri, Mehmood Shahani, Hadi Bux Berani, Abu Bakar Bhurgari, Kashif, Aslam and Arshad for tampering with water courses of Nabisar branch.