Feuding families: Five killed over old rivalries

Two, including a police constable, injured in other incidents.

GUJRANWALA/ MULTAN/ PASRUR/ GUJRAT: Three brothers and their uncle were shot dead on Thursday in Talamba, Mian Channu, over an old enmity.

Police said Gulshan, a resident of Chak 125/7-ER, was pursuing a case against Muhammad Aslam, Muhammad Nawaz, Siddique Ahmad and their uncle Lal Bakha for killing his brother Muhammad Ahmad, 30, in 2011 allegedly over a property dispute. Police said the four men had been arrested after the murder, but were later released on bail.

On Thursday, they said, when the four men were on their way to the court for the hearing, Gulshan and his accomplices opened fire at them, killing them on the spot. The assailants fled. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination.

Separately, in Gujranwala, a man was fatally shot, allegedly by an old rival.

Police said Rafaqat Ali, 35, a resident of Kot Shahan, was waiting for a bus near Samanabad Chungi when an unidentified motorcyclist shot at him and fled. Ali died before he could be taken to a hospital.

His family said they suspected an old rival to be behind the murder. They, however, have not named a suspect in the FIR yet, the police said.

In Jalalpur Jattan, a police constable was injured in firing by four wanted men.

The assailants were arrested and the injured policeman was taken to a hospital, where doctors treating him said that he would likely survive.

Saddar police said that the police team headed by SHO Mian Saleem Javed had raided a house in Kalanchoor village looking for Amir Mushtaq, who they said, was wanted in a murder case.

Some men in the house saw the police and shot at the police. The police shot back.

Constable Umar Nawaz was hit by a bullet and was taken to the district headquarters hospital, where he was reported to be out of danger.

A police team led by the Gujrat district police officer chased the criminals, who had fled the scene, but were arrested an hour later.

Police said they recovered illegal arms and ammunition from those arrested. They were identified as Shahbaz Ahmad, Muhammad Imran, Muhammad Rafiq and Muhammad Nawaz.

In Pasrur, a man was severely injured in beating by his rivals.

Police said four men broke into Bashir Ahmed’s house in Basupannu village and beat him up with pistols and sticks. They fled when he fainted.  Some neighbours informed the police. Ahmed was taken to a hospital, where doctors said that he would likely survive.

The case has been registered at Qila Kalarwala police station. No arrests have been made so far.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 19^th, 2013.