SUKKUR - On the directives of Sukkur division Commissioner Dr Muhammad Usman Chachar, the district administration on Wednesday launched an operation against encroachments built illegally on the embankments of all three canals of Sukkur Barrage, Dadu, Rice and Khirthar.
Heavy machinery was used to bulldoze the structures under the supervision of SSP Sukkur, ASP Sukkur and Assistant Commissioner New Taluka Sukkur.
When the operation started, the occupants, including women and children, carrying sticks and rocks in their hands came out on the roads and offered resistance, during which clash ensued between them and police. Afterwards, the occupants held a sit-in on city bypass and burnt tyres due to which large number of vehicles remained stuck in long queues, and the situation persisted for several hours.
Heavy contingent of police, led by SSP Sukkur Amjad Shaikh, used teargas and also baton-charged the protesters and then opened the road for traffic.
On the occasion, the protesters kept saying that they would not shift from the existing place till they were not provided alternate place as well as payment as was promised with them.
They demanded the provincial government, leader of opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah and Commissioner Sukkur Dr Muhammad Usman Chachar to provide them an alternate place for living, otherwise they would continue their protest.
