SHIKARPUR, June 16: Three people were killed by some armed men in the Samano Kharos Jatoi village near Habibkot on Thursday morning. About 10 people, allegedly belonging to the Mahar clan, shot dead Peeral, 35, Sabal, 30, and Qasim, 18, all Kharos Jatois by caste, while they were grazing cattle in a field.

Later, Kharos Jatoi tribesmen, carrying the bodies, staged sit-in on the National Highway near the Habibkot link road chowk to protest against the murders.

The protesters ended the blockade after an assurance by the SP, investigation, that the accused would soon be arrested.

Our Sukkur Correspondent adds: The incident is said to be the result of a dispute between the two tribes which started in 1986 over a piece of land.

Gulzar Jatoi registered an FIR against Mahar tribesmen at the Lakhi police station, also accusing them of taking away 40 cattlehead.

Tension is mounting in the area.

A high-level jirga is scheduled for June 19 at the circuit house in Sukkur to resolve the dispute and, according to police, both the groups want to avenge killings of their fellow tribesmen before the jirga.

Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim is also scheduled to attend the jirga which is being held despite a ban by the Sindh High Court.

All tribal chieftains of the area are reported to have been invited to attend the jirga.

A jirga had also been held in 2003 to resolve the dispute but its decisions could not be implemented.—Correspondent