04 June 2004	Friday	15 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

LAHORE, June 3: A rickshaw driver was killed in a gas cylinder blast and another two were reportedly murdered in various parts of the city on Thursday. Police said Amir Khan ran a gas business at Singhpura.

Saleem, 26 was getting filled in a cylinder for his rickshaw when it exploded. Neighbouring shopkeepers ran in panic and called out the police and the bomb disposal squad. Upon reaching there, they found the shopkeeper, the driver and another customer, Samiullah, injured.

They were rushed to hospital where the driver died while the two others were stated to be in critical condition. The police said that a case was registered against the shopkeeper. The body was returned to the family without autopsy.

Meanwhile, a salesman was shot dead allegedly by his brothers-in-law over some family dispute at Ram Gali in Naulakha. Jamil, alias Mithu, was at work when Shafiq and Yasin came there and opened fire on him after an argument, the police said quoting witnesses.

He was rushed to the Mayo Hospital where he died. The attackers escaped on a motorcycle. His body was sent to the city mortuary for autopsy. A case has been registered with no arrest.

A man, unidentified so far and aged about 30, was found murdered in a canal in Kot Lakhpat. The police said the body was in an advanced stage of decomposition. They suspected the man had been tortured to death. His body was removed to the mortuary.