THATTA, July 13: Three people were killed and at least 20 others were injured, four of them critically, when two groups clashed over a land dispute near Makli Charhi on the National Highway on Sunday.

Markets and business centres in most parts of Thatta town closed immediately after the firing in the area.

Three stationary trucks and a car, said to be the property of members of Moondha community were set on fire.

The assailants also blocked the highway by placing burning vehicles on it.

Eyewitnesses said that some members of Bikak community were erecting concrete walls around the disputed plot under heavy guard, when about six men of the Moondhas reached there and raised objection.

The Bikaks, who had joined the PPP after deserting the Shirazi group during the last elections, took three of them hostage at gunpoint and continued the construction work.

Meanwhile, dozens of men of the Moondhas arrived at the site and a fight broke out. Both the groups exchanged heavy gunfire.

Haji Moondha, Mamoon Moondha and a labourer, Hassan Chohan were killed in the firing.

At least 27 people from both sides and some of their accomplices were injured.

Sources claimed that recently after joining the PPP, the Bikaks also claimed ownership of the plot and repeatedly attempted to get it vacated but failed due to strong resistance from the Moondhas.

Sources said that about a week ago, the Bikaks stormed the plot located in midway of the twin towns, Thatta and Makli, and blocked the National Highway.

Till the filing of this report, a large number of villagers have blocked the National Highway near Chilya by placing the body of a labourer, Hassan Chohan.

The villagers claimed that Piyar Ali Bikak and his armed henchmen shot dead and injured the innocent people.

They alleged that the Bikaks were taking advantage of influence of their close relative Bilal Shaikh, said to be a close man of PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.