DADU: Food, water and other supplies to the camp of a Polish oil and gas exploration company in the hilly area of Karo Koat was restored by a strong contingent of police led by Hyderabad DIG who intervened on Friday to break the week-long blockade by local tribes.

Around 800 members of the Rind and Rustamani tribes had besieged the camp about a week ago blocking food, water and all other supplies to the company’s staff and workers stationed there in protest against denial of royalty, land compensation and jobs in the company. The firm had been complaining of extortion being demanded by armed groups but the two tribes disowned the criminals, saying they could be members of some other tribes.

On Friday, Hyderabad DIG Sanaullah Abbasi and SSP Irfan Baloch, who has been given the additional charge of Dadu SSP, and Jamshoro SSP Tariq Wilayat along with a strong police contingent reached the area and held negotiations with the tribesmen.

Sardar Khan Rind, the son of a former federal minister who heads the tribe, and Mustafa Rustamani, the chieftain of his tribe, along with Sardar Yar Mohammed Rind, Murtaza Rustamani, Deedar, Ghulam Mohammad, Yaqoob and Mian Bukhsh presented their demands and insisted that they would not allow supplies into the camp and oil fields until their demands were met.

However, after the day-long negotiations the DIG succeeded in persuading the tribal leaders to suspend their agitation. Later, the police force supervised transportation of stranded consignment into the area.

Speaking to the media, the DIG and other police officers said that they made it clear to the tribesmen that no hindrance in a smooth and peaceful supplies to the company’s camp and oil fields would be tolerated. They were told that their demands would be conveyed to the higher authorities for consideration but those involved in extortion would not be spared. The protesters’ leaders said they had no connections with the extortionists who might be residents of the Kachho area within the western belt of Dadu district but were not members of their tribes.

DIG Abbasi ordered deployment of police force in the area to check such activities. He said that the oil fields and the firm’s area of operation was state-owned land and no one could claim royalty or compensation.

He noted that besides Rind and Rustamani, the Leghari, Jamali and some other tribes living in the area were creating problems for the Polish firm.

SSP Baloch said that providing security and protection to the firm’s officers and workers was the top priority of police. The tribal leaders vowed to continue their struggle for the rights of the local people until the demands were met.

Published in Dawn May 2nd, 2015

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