THATTA, June 17: Groups of enraged Brohi tribesmen enforced a shutdown across Thatta town and blocked the nearby section of the National Highway on Monday evening in protest against the murder of a member of their tribe allegedly by Khushik youth.

The Brohis were carrying the body of Abdul Ghafoor, son of Malang Brohi, to block the thoroughfare by staging a sit-in. The rival Khushiks also took position at some distance to ward off any attack by the Brohis.

The local administration moved a strong contingent of police equipped with an armoured personnel carrier to the strife-torn area.

The situation in the town and the blocked highway

section was tense till last reports came in at around midnight.

Earlier in the day, a clash took place between armed groups of Brohi and Khushik tribesmen following an armed attack on a paan shop allegedly by a young Khushik.

Riding his motorcycle, the young man stopped at the shop and fired several shots killing Ghafoor Brohi and wounding Ali Bukhsh Mallah.

Mr Mallah received a bullet in the head and was rushed to Karachi for treatment.