Attack on Hala village by 'land grabbers' sparks protest.

HYDERABAD -- Sindh Agriculture General Workers Union (SAGWU) and Hari Haqdar Tehreek (HHT) organised a demonstration here on Saturday in protest against 'forced occupation and burning of Bheel community's houses by land mafia'.

Peasants, rights activists and farm workers took part in the demonstration held outside local press club to condemn the attack in Bheel Mori Goth, Hala.

Led by SAGWU general secretary Comrade Lal Bakhsh Lalan and HHT vice president Sabhagi Bheel, the protesters raised slogans against the culprits for intimidating peasant families and rendering them homeless. They also warned the local administration 'to refrain from backing the culprits'.

Representatives of various labour and human rights organisations also joined in the protest.

Speaking to the participants, National Trade Union Federation of Pakistan (NTUF) secretary general Nasir Mansoor said that the 'land mafia' was active in both urban and rural areas. He alleged that dwellers of old settlements were being evicted in connivance with local administrations. Referring to the incident in Bheel Mori Goth, he said attempts were being made to usurp the century-old village, which comprised over 200 houses of landless haris. The local administration was backing the land mafia, he deplored, and warned that if it did not stop supporting the culprits, the scope of protest would be widened.

Sabhagi Bheel said that the May 10 attack on Bheel Mori Goth was carried out in broad daylight. She named those leading the attack as Luqman Rajput, Jamil Rajput and Ali Muawiyah, and said that around two dozen armed men were involved in it. 'Several houses were set on fire, cattle killed and many residents were barely able to save their lives,' she added.

She also strongly criticised the area police for not taking any action while the attackers were harassing villagers with firing and torching their houses. It was only after villagers' protest that an FIR was registered at the local police station, she said.

Ms Bheel said although a few attackers were picked up, most others still remained still at large.

She noted...