Residents of Arab Solangi village near Thatta today leveled serious allegations on the police operation.
The incident arose from a disputed land issue concerning the eviction of villagers from a plot of one and a quarter acres. The police’s initial attempt to vacate the land under court orders turned into clashes, resulting in injuries to several people, including Senior House Officer Mazhar Kango and three other police personnel.
Following the clashes, Assistant Superintendent of Police Abdullah Afzal led a large-scale operation with over 200 officers and heavy machinery. The operation targeted not only the disputed land but allegedly razed the entire village, including houses built under the Sindh government’s People’s Housing Scheme. A local library established by journalist and welfare figure Hajjan Solangi, a beacon of knowledge for the community, was also demolished, leaving books buried under the debris.
During the operation, villagers allege that the police fired into the air, causing men to flee, leaving women and children to face the consequences in the scorching sun. Distressed women, sometimes with tears in their eyes, spoke to journalists about the destruction of their homes and livelihoods while appealing for justice.