Gunfire, grenade attack leave four dead
Four people were killed and three others injured at a wedding celebration when a violent clash erupted between two rival groups in the Kala police jurisdiction.
The incident took place in the village of Hota Hitwani, where both gunfire and hand grenades were used freely during the altercation.
The wedding ceremony of Muhammad Ikram, nephew of Faiz Muhammad Lumbhar, was underway when an old feud reignited between the Hitwani and Ladha groups. Heated words between Hafeezullah, Shakir alias Shakan, Faiz Muhammad alias Wahid Bakhsh, Nazar Hussain, Dilshad, Ilyas, Riaz alias Mukhlis Khosa from the Hitwani group, and Riaz alias Ladha, Mustafa Gorchani, Arshad Gorchani from the Ladha group quickly escalated into gunfire.
Hand grenades were also used, causing panic among the wedding attendees.
Upon receiving the report of the incident, police and Rescue 1122 teams rushed to the scene. The 31-year-old Hafeezullah was shot dead on the spot, while 45-year-old Khalid, 14-year-old Arshad, and 40-year-old Riaz succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.
The injured, including 30-year-old Sadaqat, 30-year-old Dilshad, and 14-year-old Ilyas, were transferred to the trauma center at Allama Iqbal Teaching Hospital for treatment. The Kala Police, led by SHO Arshad Hussain, have registered a case under sections 302, 324, 148, 149 and other serious offenses.
The police have started raids to arrest the suspects involved in the attack.
Initial investigations suggest that the altercation stemmed from a financial dispute in Saudi Arabia, but the police are probing various angles to bring the culprits to justice swiftly.
DPO Syed Ali also arrived at the scene and ordered the immediate arrest of those responsible for the deadly clash. Earlier on May 30, two individuals were shot and killed near the District Courts in Dera Ghazi Khan, while one person was injured.
Relatives of the deceased and bystanders managed to apprehend the accused and handed them over to the police. The incident occurred in the Civil Line police station area, where two motorcycle-riding assailants opened fire on Muhammad Hanif and Muhammad Mushtaq, who were on their way to appear in court.
Muhammad Hanif died instantly, while Muhammad Mushtaq sustained a gunshot wound to his leg.
Upon receiving the information, rescue personnel from Rescue 1122 arrived at the scene and transported the deceased and the injured to the trauma center at Teaching Hospital.
Ghulam Abbas, the deceased's uncle, along with other relatives, appealed to Regional Police Officer Sajjad Hasan Khan and District Police Officer Syed Ali for immediate justice during a media briefing.