Deployment of Rangers along Nara Canal sought after attacks on officials.

HYDERABAD -- Sindh home department has sought deployment of Rangers in three divisions of Nara Canal following two back to back armed attacks on monitoring teams in Mirpurkhas district and harassment of irrigation officials when they were patrolling along the canal to check water theft in Sanghar district.

In Mirpurkhas incident a day before Eid, a monitoring team of Nara Canal led by Abdul Wassay Sheikh and officials of Digri subdivision noticed water was being stolen through an illegal pipe at Mureed distributary. When they tried to remove the pipe, miscreants opened fire at them, hitting their vehicles. Luckily, no one was hit in the attack.

An FIR was lodged against Abdul Karim, Qadir Bux, Bahawal and three unidentified persons, all Nohanis by caste, under Sections 324, 353, 148, 149, 337, 337F, 14-A, 61/62 Irrigation Act at Digri police station on a complaint lodged by sub-engineer Zafar Ali Kalhoro, Digri. Bahawal was later arrested by Digri police.

Newly-appointed director of Area Water Board Nara Canal, Mansoor Memon, had formed the monitoring team for checking water theft and ensuring equal distribution of water in the canal's command area. The AWB manages the 220-mile long canal under the Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority. Memon rushed to the scene sought police help and informed irrigation secretary and home secretary about the incident.

In the meantime, on Eid day, irrigation officials were harassed by Chakrani clansmen in Nara Canal's command area in Khadro in Sanghar district. A case was also lodged on the complaint of SDO Irfan under Sections 353, 50692), 337H(ii) and 34 PPC against Chakranis. No arrests had been made so far.

The second attack within two days forced the director of AWB to request deployment of Rangers in three divisions of Nara Canal -- Jamrao, Mithrao and Thar divisions.

He said that some khatedars were lifting water by force through pipes and harassing lower staff of...