Sindh's towns rocked by Protests against Kidnappings of Hindus

[Gul Agha <agha@CS.UIUC.EDU>]

Sindhi newspaper Daily Kawish reports on demonstrations and protests
in Northern Sindh against the epidemic of kidnapping of Sindhi
Hindus.

In one protest against the kidnapping local Hindu Panchayat leader
Santosh Kumar, five Sindhi Rights activists had been on a public
hunger strike in Larkarno, Sindh for the last 13 days: Irshad Shaikh,
Wahab Jokhio, Noorullah Abro, Raja Abro, and Fida Khoso.  Their
dramatically deterioting health prompted the intervension of
Mr. Kumar's brother Prakash Lal, Member of National Assembly Ramesh
Lal, Hindu Panchayat leader Lekhraj, Marnik Rai, and others, who
visited them yesterday, the traditional day for Thadri festival and
pleaded with them to end their hunger strike in deference to Thadri.
Photo shows them hand feeding the weakened hunger strikers:

  http://www.dailykawish.com/Hyd6/pictuer2.html

At the same time, demonstrations took place in other towns including
Shahdadtkot, Sindh where three other demonstrators declared a hunger
strike unto death: Ramesh Lal, Deputy Mayor Haroon Soomro, and Dedar
Magsi; and in Gaji Khawar, Sindh where Rahmat Ullah Khawar, Lal Baksh
and others announced a hunger strike till release of kidnap victims.
Jeay Sindh National Front (JSQM) leader Dr. Niaz Kalyarnii said that
their heartfelt sympathies were with what their Hindu brethren were
going through.

Meanwhile, activist Abdul Wahid Khokhar threatened to carry out a
self-immolation unless Kapil, a kidnapped Hindu child was immediately
freed -- Hindu leaders Bhavan Das, Dr. Prem and others rushed to
dissuade him.  In Talhar, Sindh, children took out a procession.  In
BbuDho Kambiraarnii, Sindh, Awami Tehreek (People's Movement) leaders
Safir Nizamani, Tirat Das and Sarang Kaloii led a demonstration.

News story at: http://www.dailykawish.com/Hyd6/ti08.html