SUKKUR, March 28: Two policemen and a civilian were killed and three others, including two policemen, were injured, when armed men fired rockets on an APC in the kutcha area in the jurisdiction of Ranwti police station near Ubauro on Monday night. The police APC came under attack when it was in a disputed land measuring 1,200 acres which was claimed by two rival groups.

A police team had gone to the disputed site allegedly to hand over possession to one of the parties.

Those in possession of the land launched the rockets when they saw their opponents along with police coming towards them.

As a result, a police constable Khadim Gadani and Shaman Ali Mahar were killed on the spot while four others, including APC driver Parwano Mashoori, police constables Shabbir Soomro, Ellahi Bux Leghari and Barkat Mahar were injured.

The armed men took away the injured police constable Ellahi Bux Leghari and both the bodies with them.

Later, they killed the kidnapped police constable Ellahi Bux Leghari and handed over all the three bodies to the Ranwti police.

Police sources claimed that the dispute between the two groups over the possession of 1,200 acre of land began six years back in which two people were killed.

Sources close to the police told that the bodies were handed over to the police after the intervention of Haji Khan Shar, Sardar Ahmed Yar Shar and other influential of the area.

The Ghotki DPO said that with the help of Ali Gohar Mahar, Haji Khan Shar, Ahmd Yar Shar and other influential talks were under way to resolve the matter.

Sukkur DIG Syed Zulfiqar Shah said the area was situated in a very dense forest and added that they were working over a action plan to handle the matter.

He said that FIR was registered against unknown attackers, majority of whom resided on the Sindh-Punjab border.

When asked that policemen have been killed in the incident and what action was being planned.

He said that a crackdown was being planned against the assailants.