HYDERABAD, Feb 21: Two security guards lost their lives at the hands of robbers within the jurisdiction of Market police on Monday in unusual circumstances. The guards were posted at a petrol pump but were persuaded by an employee to move from their site of duty to a bank with the purpose of depositing cash.

Mehboob Jatoi and the two guards were riding on two separate motorcycles when intercepted by armed motorcyclists. Guards resisted dacoits who opened fire and killed both of them on spot. Dacoits fled away taking with them the cash and repeaters of guards.

However, mystery shrouds over the statement of petrol pump employee as he gave conflicting statements over the amount of cash, he was carrying. The SHO Market police station Munir Abbasi said that Mehboob Jatoi was changing his statements. Initially, he said the amount was five to six hundred thousands rupees, which then was reduced to Rs350,000, to Rs200,00 and finally settled at Rs278, 000.

The SHO was sceptical over the role of Mehboob and said that he would come under scrutiny during investigation.

Jatoi threw the cash on hearing gunshot sound, said police.

The amount in the FIR was shown as Rs278,000 and Jatoi mentioned of two armed men in it. However, soon after the incident he had claimed of three men, said police.

Activists of the Sindh Tarraqi Passand Party blocked the Jail Road in protest against rising incidents of crime.

Later police arrived and persuaded them in dispersing peacefully.