NAWABSHAH: Three people were gunned down and 19 others, including women, were injured when two groups of Junejo community exchanged fire after their verbal clash over trespassing of cattle into a field spiraled into a full scale armed conflict in Jani Junejo village near Sanghar on Sunday.

Mushtaq Ali Junejo, Ali Bux Junejo and Abdul Rasool Junejo died on the spot while Ms Zubeida, Ms Sajida, Ms Uzma, Nazeer, Ghulam Rasool, Naveed Ali, Awais, Imamuddin, Asad, Abbas, Arbab, Lal Bux, Ashiq Hussain, Abdul Salam, Lal Bux, Nawaz Ali, Qadir, Ubaidullah and Saifullah were seriously injured and shifted to Sanghar Civil Hospital. Later, the critically injured were shifted to Peoples Medical University Hospital, Nawabshah.

Victims’ families hold protest

Members of the families and relatives of the victims staged a demonstration outside Sanghar Press Club and demanded action against the persons responsible for the tragedy.

They accused an elected representative of the ruling party of being directly involved in the clash and firing straight at the victims with his own rifle.

Police avoided speaking on the clash and Sanghar SSP was unavailable for comments.

Sanghar and its adjoining areas were shut in protest over the incident, while most of the roads passing through the area were blocked by protesters.

Ex-MNAs of PPP, GDA slam incident

Talking to reporters here, former PPP MNA Naveed Dero accused Roshan Junejo, Salahuddin Junejo and Mohammad Khan Junejo of igniting the rivalry, which led to the clash, and said district administration, including deputy commissioner and SSP, were well aware of the simmering tensions between the groups but they failed to stop it.

Ex-MNA of Grand Democratic Alliance, Saira Bano, and incumbent PPP MNA Shazia Marri also condemned the incident. Ms Bano said quoting Mr Dero that the district administration was aware of the tension between the groups still it acted negligently.

She said in a statement issued here that Sindh chief minister restore law and order in Sanghar and take stern action against the administration for its negligence.

She said that she also contacted Sindh home minister and IGP Sindh and demanded the culprits be arrested immediately.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2025