LARKANA: An armed battle involving two gangs of criminals in the Keti Mumtaz area of Larkana district left three men dead and two others wounded on Saturday, officials at the Keti Mumtaz police station said.

According to them, the rival gangs were known for their criminal activities in several villages of the area for long. On Saturday, members of one gang led by Mallan Shaikh allegedly herded away four buffaloes from the house of Lal Bukhsh Shaikh, who heads the other gang, in Bhanbho Shaikh village.

In retaliation, armed men belonging to the Lal Bukhsh Shaikh gang tried to herd away about 30 cows owned by Mallan Shaikh which triggered a fierce gun battle between the two sides, the police said.

The clash left three gangsters — later identified by police as Ayaz Shaikh, Darban Shaikh and Maula Bukhsh Shaikh — dead and two others — Miandad Shaikh and Hazaro Shaikh — wounded.

Strong contingents from Naudero and other police stations were called in to silence the guns and collect the bodies, which were lying in the battlefield till last reports came in late in the evening.

Naudero SHO Sartaj Jagirani told local reporters that the reinforcement was on its way to Bhanbho Shaikh village. He said that all victims were residents of the same village.