SUKKUR: Three men belonging to the Odho community of Garhi Khairo in Jacobabad district lost their lives in an armed clash following a brawl involving some members of the community and their rival Jakhrani community in Azizullah Odho village on Thursday.

Reports from the area suggested that youths belonging to the two communities — embroiled in an old enmity for long over many issues — were playing cricket in a ground when they quarrelled over some matter. Armed men from both sides got involved and after a heated argument started firing on each other.

As a result, three Odhos were killed. Two of them were identified as Sajjad and Ghulam Hyder while the identity of the third one could not be ascertained till late in the evening. Five other persons from both sides sustained gunshot wounds in the clash.

The hostility between the two communities had already claimed nine lives over the last 10 months, officials at the Tajo Dero police station said.

Police rushed to the village and transported the bodies and wounded persons to the Garhi Khairo Taluka Hospital. Three of the critically wounded persons were later referred to the Chandka Medical College Hospital, Larkana.

The bodies were handed over to the heirs.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2020