A least six policemen have been martyred in a shootout with dacoits in the precincts of Moladad police station in Jacobabad, officials said.

Three of them, Inspector Tayeb Imrani and constables Nisar and Wahab, died on the spot while another three, including Khadim Hussain and Raiz Hussain, succumbed to their wounds later.

The shootout began when Balochistan police chased a group of dacoits, who entered Jacobabad in the Sindh province.

The bandits opened fire on the police in Jacobabad, killing three policemen and injuring another three, SS Sameer Chana said.

The dead and the injured were moved to the district hospital in Jacobabad city.

The death toll later rose to six, officials said.