KARACHI, Dec 3: A man was killed and two security guards were wounded in a clash between what police described as criminal elements and students of a seminary here on Monday night.

Police said that the incident took place in Block 12 of Gulistan-i-Jauhar where Jamia Ashraful Madaris is located. Adjacent to the Jamia is an apartment block in which some students and staff of the seminary reside.

According to SP Shah Faisal Javed Meher, the clash took place when some elements involved in land grabbing in the area tried to enter the apartment complex and were resisted by security guards of the apartment resulting in an exchange of fire.

The assailants who, according to police, wanted to occupy some vacant apartments were led by a person named as Muzammil.

One assailant was killed in the firing and two guards were wounded.

Mr Meher told Dawn that some attackers had been arrested by police four months ago but they were released on bail. The SP said that these elements had been occupying vacant apartments in the area and several FIRs were pending against them.