BADIN, Oct 21: Fishermen from the coastal area staged a sit-in at the Kazia canal chowk here on Thursday against what they called harassment by Rangers.

They were led by Mithal Mallah and Sajan Mallah of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum.

Hundreds of men, women and children blocked the road for more than three hours.

They were demanding withdrawal of Rangers from traditional fishing areas.

Talking to newsmen, they alleged that fishermen of the Sindh coast continued to suffer harassment at the hands of Thar Rangers and their contractors.

They said they had no source of livelihood other than fishing while the contract system imposed on them hung like a sword of Damocles.

They said that if any fisherman dared to protest against Rangers he was tortured, implicated in false cases and forced to leave the area.

They alleged that on Wednesday, two Rangers conducted a raid on their homes in Kandri village and tortured and harassed them.

Meanwhile, the Kadhan police registered a case against eight fishermen under section 324, 353, 341, 342, 147, 148, 149 and 504 for beating law-enforcers and detaining them.

The police arrested Nabi Bux, Jan Muhammad, Bakhar and Ali Mohammad Mallah, while Qasim and three other unidentified accused were still at large.

DPO Amir Shaikh said an inquiry was conducted and an FIR was registered after recovery of uniforms and weapons which had been snatched by the accused.

The complaint was lodged against fishermen by Naik Allah Warayo Panhwar of the Thar Rangers.

The complainant stated in the FIR that he and his other colleague Fazal were posted at the Rangers post Kandri, some three kilometres away from village of fishermen.

They were detained by Nabi Bux and others and their uniforms and weapons were snatched.

Meanwhile, District Nazim Kamal Chang has imposed a ban on catching of fish under section 144 CrPC with immediate effect.

No one is allowed to catch anyfish or prawn within the jurisdiction of union councils Khorwah, Ahmed Rajo, Bhugra Memon and Seerani of Badin district, said the order.

It is learnt that the nazim approached the Sindh Corps Commander and other higher authorities for removal of pickets of Rangers established in the area.

It may be recalled that the fishing waters remained under dispute among the people of Badin and Rangers.

The district government had been demanding withdrawal of Rangers from these waters.