THATTA, Dec 14: Yar Muhammad Soomro, a gardener of the forest department, was shot dead while constable Lal Bux Kandhro of police check post Khadi forest sustained severe injuries, when dacoits, stated to be over half a dozen in number, opened indiscriminate fire on them in thick woods on Friday afternoon.

Police sources said the deceased Yar Muhammad Soomro, accompanied by sepoy Lal Bux and one Mallah by caste whose name could not be known immediately, were heading in dense wood site in forest as the tyre of their motorcycle got punctured.

Handing over the motorcycle to Mallah both of them started moving on foot as about six outlaws appeared on the scene and started firing.

Both of them took to their heels but Soomro was shot dead and his companion was injured.

A police contingent headed by the DSP of Mirpur Bathoro, Ghulam Mustafa Shah, encircled the forest but no arrest has so far been made.