MIRPURKHAS, June 14: Caning by Rangers sent six villagers to hospital where five were admitted with serious wounds and one released after receiving first aid. The men were intercepted by Rangers personnel as they were proceeding to join a sit-in against water shortage.

Protesters, later demanded registration of a case against Rangers' personnel for injuring villagers. Rangers men intercepted a motorcycle rickshaw near Ahmed Khan Khoso village in Taluka Jhuddo on Tuesday and baton-charged its occupants going to Chilli Market Jhuddo to join thousands of protesters who had converged there for a sit-in on the call of Growers Association Jhuddo Taluka against acute water shortage.

A vehicle of Rangers personnel deployed at Mithrao canal for patrolling intercepted the rickshaw and did not let the occupants proceed further. Rangers baton-charged the villagers after exchanging hot words with them. Six men including Zahid Khoso, Imran, Abdul Hameed, Khalid Hussain, Keval Kolhi and Gulab Manganhar were seriously injured in the melee and were rushed to the Rural Health Centre Jhuddo.

Except for Keval Kolhi, the others were admitted to the hospital with serious injuries.

Dr Qadeer Rajput of Jhuddo hospital told reporters the injured were brought to the hospital with serious wounds along with police letters.

However, complete shutter down strike was observed in Jhuddo against acute water shortage in Buggi minor fed by Jamrao canal. Markets and bazaar gave a deserted look.

While thousands of protesters who had already gathered near Chilli Market blocked the Jhuddo-Mithi suspending traffic for some time.

Protesters were led by landlords Ghulam Rasool Mugheri, Dr Ameer Rind, Jalil Unnar, Abdullah Khoso and Ameer Bux Pitafi. Carrying banners and placards, they raised slogans against irrigation officials and demanded immediate release of water into Buggi minor.

Protestors alleged that the tail-end growers were deprived of water for the past six weeks hence their cotton, sugarcane, vegetables and other standing crops on hundreds of acres were being affected badly. They alleged the Irrigation Department officials were receiving bribe for releasing water.

Protesters condemned the Rangers for injuring the villagers coming to attend the sit-in and demanded of the authorities to ensure registration of a case.