UMERKOT, July 5 A peasant was killed and his colleague was seriously injured, who later died while being moved to a hospital, when son of a landlord opened fire on them in Thathrai, 10km from here on Monday, reportedly as a punishment for demanding share in the harvest.

Three women also suffered injuries trying to save them.

Enraged relatives of the peasants Herchand Oad, 45, and Loono Bheel took to the streets after hearing the news about their death and forced shopkeepers to pull down shutters. According to Umerkot police, Herchand accompanied by Loono went to meet his landlord Sain Bux Mangrio at his autaq (guest house) near his village and demanded his share in the harvest.

Herchand and the landlord exchanged hot words and then Mangrio ordered his son Ali Ahmed alias Sadoro to kill them, said police.

Ali Ahmed opened straight fire on Herchand and Loono. Herchand died on the spot and Loono and three relatives of Herchand, Ms Rajbai, Ms Tulchhan and Ms Phoolan who had rushed to the autaq after hearing them shouting suffered injuries as they tried to save him.

They were taken to district headquarter hospital but the doctors referred them to Hyderabad. Loono died on his way while the other injured were shifted to Hyderabad Civil Hospital.

The protesters placed the bodies at Allahwala Chowk and staged a sit-in, suspending vehicular traffic for five hours.

Later, Sindh Minister for Population Welfare Syed Ali Mardan Shah and Umerkot DCO held negotiations with the elders of the affected families and persuaded them to end the protest on assurance that the killers would be arrested within 24 hours.

Police have registered two FIRs against the landlord and his son on complaints lodged by Lalchand Oad, son of Herchand, and Jalal Bheel, father Loono.