Thatta: Some influential land grabbers along with their henchmen, armed with deadly weapons, attacked a village near Gharo town in Thatta district and resorted to aerial firing to create trepidation among the villagers on Monday.
They stormed the houses of the poor peasants of the Jokhiya community and subjected them to severe beating with sticks and clubs leaving seven villagers including three women injured critically.
The affected villagers staged a sit-in on National Highway and chanted slogans against the land mafia. They told local reporters that the armed men forced them to vacate their houses in order to occupy their ancestral land. The villagers however vowed they would resist the occupation of that land at the cost of their lives.
Victims of attack – Feroz Jokhiyo, Abdullah Jokhiyo, Mahi Piran, and Najman said that they were pitilessly thrashed by the goons of Shaukat Niazi, Sohail Sharafat, and Imtiaz Shah. Ms Najman and Mahi Pira added that they were dragged by their hairs.
A Police party led by area SHO arrived there and held talks with the villagers, and assured them of action against the land grabbers and their henchmen. Later, on Monday night, a FIR of the incident was lodged under section 147-(Punishment for rioting) 148- (rioting and being armed with deadly weapons) 149- ( Common object of offense) 324- (Attempt to Commit Qatl-e-Amd) 337-( A and I) 447-(Punishment of criminal trespass) 452-(House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint) 506/2-(Punishment for criminal intimidation) and 504-(Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of Pakistan Penal Code 1860 against Shaukat Niazi, Sohail Sharafat, Imtiaz Shah and their goons.