Three shot dead in wheat harvest dispute

Police detain retired SP among suspects as CPO orders inquiry

FAISALABAD:

Three men were shot dead during a dispute over wheat harvesting in the Lundianwala area of Faisalabad, police said on Tuesday.

As per the initial reports, the incident occurred in Chak 651-GB, where an argument during wheat harvesting escalated into violence.

Armed suspects identified as Farooq, Usman and others allegedly opened fire on their rivals, killing Imtiaz, Nasir and Jaffar on the spot.

Police officials reached the scene upon receiving information and shifted the bodies to hospital for postmortem examination.

A search operation was launched to arrest the remaining suspects.

City Police Officer (CPO) Sahibzada Bilal Umar took notice of the triple murder and sought a detailed report from the SP Jaranwala.

Special teams have been formed to apprehend those involved.

Police confirmed that a retired SP, Chaudhry Farooq Handal, and his nephew Usman alias Shani have been taken into custody, while efforts are ongoing to arrest other suspects.

Meanwhile, official data reveals a troubling rise in killings linked to personal disputes across Faisalabad district.

According to statistics available for the first four months of 2026, at least 78 people have been killed in incidents stemming from old enmities, land disputes and personal conflicts.

The highest number of killings was reported in the rural Jaranwala division, where 24 people were shot dead.

Madina Town division ranked second with 19 killings, followed by Iqbal division with 17 cases.

In Saddar division, which largely comprises rural areas, 12 people were killed, while Lyallpur Town, covering central urban areas, reported six killings.

Police officials said most suspects involved in these cases have been arrested and sent to jail. Authorities added that even blind murder cases were traced using modern investigative techniques.

The latest incident highlights the persistent issue of violent disputes in rural areas, particularly during agricultural activities, prompting calls for stricter law enforcement and conflict resolution measures.