UMERKOT: Two brothers were shot dead when they resisted a robbery on Thursday.

Enraged youths of the Malhi community ransacked the district hospital while PTI MNA Lal Malhi accused police and a politician of the PPP of being behind increasing crime and announced a shutter-down for two days.

According to eye-witnesses, three persons riding on a motorcycle intercepted trader Ashok Kumar Malhi and his brother Heralal Malhi near

Rama Pir Chowk and attempted to rob them.

When they offered resistance, the criminals fired six bullets, three at Ashok’s chest and two at Heralal’s stomach. They were taken to the district head quarter hospital Umerkot, but according to MNA Lal Malhi, there were no duty doctors to provide the first aid, resultantly both succumbed to their injuries.

Mr Malhi accused Provincial Minister for Population Welfare Syed Ali Mardan behind increasing crime in the area. He said that before this, more than 10 Hindu traders had been kidnapped and recovered after payment of heavy ransom amount.

He said police and the deputy commissioner did not cooperate with him.

He gave a call for two-day shutter down strike throughout the district.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2014