DADU, July 22: A protest demonstration by villagers of Fateh Khan Zaur against issuance of detection and inflated power bills, held near Dadu town, turned ugly on Thursday when police resorted to baton charge in which nine persons were injured.

The villagers were holding a protest demonstration on the Indus Highway, near the town, during which their leader, Rafiq Ahmed, alleged that officials of the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company demanded Rs1,000 a house per month as illegal gratification and, on refusal, issued exorbitant bills.

Meanwhile, a heavy contingent of the Dadu town police arrived at the spot and baton-charged the protesters to disperse them.

In retaliation, the protesters used sticks and stones, as a result of which six villagers, including a pregnant woman, and three policemen were injured.

Condition of three villagers - Amin Zaur, Razzaq and Begum - was stated to be serious.

Later, TPO Lal Bakhsh Abro arrived at the spot and assured the villagers that action would be taken against the policemen for the irresponsible action. On this, the protest ended.

Hesco Dadu-II sub-division SDO Irshad Ahmed Memon, when contacted, said that the villagers had not paid their bills for the last six months and alleged that 75 of them were guilty of power theft while the other 35 did not pay their dues.

POTABLE WATER: Johi union council nazim Mohammad Usman Jamali has said that owing to non-release of full water share into the Johi branch, residents were being deprived of drinking water.

Speaking to councillors and social workers in Johi on Thursday, he alleged that irrigation officials were selling water to influential landowners of the Sita and Pat Sharif regions.

BANDIT ARRESTED: An alleged bandit was arrested and another injured in a police encounter in the Thana Bula Khan area on Tuesday, police said.

According to police, on a tip off, a police party cordoned off the hilly area near Toung village. Later, an encounter took place between police and outlaws, which lasted for two hours.

As a result, gang leader Aali Khoso was seriously injured, his accomplice Sattar Baricho arrested and one gun and 30 cartridges were recovered from his possession. Other bandits managed to escape, taking their injured leader with them.

DRUGS SEIZED: Police raided Gozo town in the Khairpur Nathan Shah area on Tuesday and seized eight bags of cannabis and one bag of opium from the possession of accused Mumtaz and Sajjad.