MIRPURKHAS, June 28: Police baton-charged residents of Baloch Para, Walkart, who were protesting against shortage of water in their area on Tuesday. The residents, including women and children, took out a procession and held a demonstration. They ransacked offices of the taluka nazim, personal assistant of the taluka nazim, naib nazim, taluka municipal officer, meeting hall and other offices. Three people suffered injuries while breaking glass of the offices.

The protesters then burnt tyres on the M. A. Jinnah Road in front of the TMA building. Some shopkeepers closed their shops.

City TPO Malik Zafar Iqbal and Town SHO Malik Afsar, along with a heavy contingent of police, reached the spot.

The protesters raised slogans against the taluka nazim and the Mirpurkhas TMA and demanded supply of water to their areas.

Police baton-charged protesters at the Mirza Mansoor Baig Chowk when they tried to go towards the local press club.

Police arrested 13 protesters and sent them to the Town police station. They are Naeem Baloch, Sajid Baloch, Bashir Baloch, Majid Ali, Yamin, Rashida Baloch, Gulnisa, Aarfa Baloch, Narebi, Amna Baloch, Noor Bibi, Lateefa and Mehar-un-Nisa.

Talking to journalists at the police station, the TPO said people had the right to hold peaceful protests but no one was allowed to damage properties and create a law and order situation.

He claimed that police had not detained women but they had come to the police station to release the arrested people.

Later, police released the detained people on the personal surety of Union Council-6 Nazim Rahim Bux Makrani.