20 January 2004	Tuesday	27 Ziqa'ad 1424

KARACHI, Jan 19: Three persons were shot dead, apparently in a case of gang rivalry, in Lyari on Monday morning. The police said Shahid Chand, Mohammad Hanif and Mohammad Noman were sitting in Patni Compound, Nayabad, when some unidentified persons in a car sprayed bullets on them and then fled.

According to the police, the three died on the spot. Mohammad Noman, who had initially managed to escape, was chased by the armed men and shot in the head.

Town Police Officer of Lyari, Ali Mohsin, told Dawn that the deceased were involved in a rivalry with the Siddiq Bucha gang of Baldia and, according to initial investigations, the attackers belonged to this group. He said several members of the rival groups had been killed in the past.

Shahid Chand was involved in at least seven cases of murder and attempt to commit murder in different localities of the city. He was a former activist of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, the police added.

The Kalri police lodged an FIR in which Siddiq Bucha, Yousuf Ghanchi, Mohammad Ali and others were nominated. The case was registered on the statement given by a brother of one of the victims.