Mirpurkhas food controller removed in wake of flour seeker's death in stampede.

MIRPURKHAS -- Sindh chief secretary has replaced Mirpurkhas district food controller Waseem Abro with Mir Ali Muhammad Talpur in the wake of death of a labourer who was killed in stampede during distribution of subsidised flour bags among people in Gulistan-i-Baldia park a week ago.

Sources said that the decision was taken in the light of inquiry report of a four-member committee headed by additional deputy commissioner Mirpurkhas-II which probed the causes that led to Harsingh Kolhi's death. The committee was set up by deputy commissioner Zainul Abideen Memon.

The DC announced setting up 53 low-cost flour stalls across the district and its talukas after the death of the labourer to ensure distribution of flour at official rate under adequate security arrangements.

Despite the tall claims of the officials, poor people, including women, were seen returning empty handed to their houses daily after failing to buy the subsidised flour bags from the stalls. Hence, majority of the poor was still compelled to buy the flour at high price of Rs148 per kilo, said sources.

DC Memon said that Mirpurkhas SSP had informed him that police personnel had gone to Hyderabad and Karachi for performing official duty in local government election, hence police would be able to provide security at flour stalls after their return within a couple of days.

He said that he would resume the process of distribution of...