45 injured, scores arrested in anti-encroachment operation in Sukkur

SUKKUR: As many as 40 people and five policeman were injured in tear gas shelling and stone pelting incident in Sukkur following a police operation to remove illegally-built houses and other encroachments on the banks of the Rice Canal, Kirthar Canal and Dadu Canal. Police registered FIRs and arrested around 40 protesters.

On Thursday, the Irrigation and Municipal authorities along with police launched an operation to remove the illegally-constructed houses along the banks of Rice Canal, Kirthar Canal and Dadu Canals with heavy machinery.

There are around 2,000 houses along the banks of these canals. The anti encroachment operation, according to the irrigation officials, was undertaken in compliance with the Supreme Court of Pakistan that had directed removal of encroachments along the specified canals.

The operation led to severe resistance by the locals who pelted stones at the demolition teams. As more people gathered, it turned into pitched battles between the police and the violent people.

The SSP Sukkur tried to negotiate with the protestors but the stone pelting continued, according to police officials forcing the police to withdraw and demolition work was stopped. The police resorted to tear gas shelling and baton charge to disperse the violent mobs and arrested several of them. The police rounded up over 40 protesters and filed FIRs under 7ATA section. The protesters later staged a sit-in. The protesters demanded alternate residential accommodation.

Reacting to the incident, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condemned the anti-encroachment operation. He ordered the Sindh government to stop it and file appeals against the Supreme Court orders. The PTI, JUI-F Sindh leaders condemned the operation, dubbing it dispossessing the poor on pretext of compliance of court orders.