HYDERABAD, Oct 29: An animal trader was killed on Saturday when he put up a strong resistance to two robbers who intercepted him to snatch from him Rs700,000 at gunpoint within the jurisdiction of the A-section police station.

The victim was identified as 33-year-old Dhanchand Bagri, son of Subha Bagri, resident of Ram Nagar in Ganjo Takkar Pahri Site area of Latifabad.

Dhanchand, his son Omparkash and his brother Siri Ram were going home after selling 42 goats early in the morning from the sacrificial animal market set up in Latifabad Unit no 7.

Siri Ram said they had hired a rickshaw and were passing by a private hospital on Airport Road when two robbers riding a bike intercepted them. They opened fire on Dhanchand when he offered resistance and deprived him of Rs700,000.

He said that Dhanchand was shifted to Bhitai Hospital in Latifabad from where he was referred to Liaquat University Hospital in Hyderabad. But he died on his way to hospital.

A number of members of the Bagri community carrying the body staged a sit-in outside the SSP office on Saturday.

Siri Ram lodged an FIR against unidentified assailants with the A-Section police station.

On Monday, a large number of Bagris, including women and children, took out a procession in protest against killing of the trader and staged a sit-in outside the local press club. They were demanding arrest of the robbers. Siri Ram, his uncle Magan Lal and others led the protest.

They chanted slogans against the police and the government.

They appealed to President Asif Ali Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah to take notice of the incident and ensure protection to the Hindu community.