NAWABSHAH, Oct 5: Three people, including a police constable, were seriously injured when police and bandits exchanged fire on the National Highway near Daulatpur early on Thursday morning.

Six armed bandits intercepted a bus going to Karachi from Sadiqabad near the Pubjo More near Daulatpur and deprived passengers of cash, jewellery and other belongings.

A police party patrolling the area reached the spot, and bandits started firing.

Bus driver Mohammad Aslam, passenger Sadoro Meerani and constable Ali Hassan Khaskheli were seriously injured in the ensuing exchange of fire.

The bandits, however, managed to escape to kutcha area.

Two of the seriously injured passengers were shifted to the People’s Medical College Hospital, Nawabshah, while Sadoro Meerani was treated at the Rural Health Centre in Qazi Ahmed.

Meanwhile, angry passengers blocked the National Highway bypass in protest against the incident. They demanded return of their cash and valuables.

Some of the passengers even discontinued their journey to Karachi and returned to Sadiqabad from Daulatpur.

The protesting passengers dispersed after assurance given by officials of the motorway police.

No FIR was lodged till the filing of the report.

CLASH: Three students of Quaid-e-Awam University of Engineering, Science and Technology, Nawabshah, were injured as a result of a clash on Thursday.