GUJRAT, Sept 2: Three people were shot dead and four others injured when rivals sprayed their vehicles with bullets near Dhal Bangash village in Dinga police precinct, about 45 kilometres away from here, on Tuesday morning.

Reports said seven men of Ghulam Muhammad group of Dhoop Sarri village were going to Kharian to attend a court hearing in a murder case. Near Dhal Bangash village along the Jhelum canal, armed gangsters of Mian Khan group allegedly opened fire on the rivals, killing Asghar, Khurram Mehdi and Shaukat. Asghar, Imran, Ansar and Basharat suffered injuries and were admitted to the Kharian civil hospital.

The Dinga police registered a case against 26 nominated accused and six other members of the Mian Khan group.

Sources said Ehsan alias Shana of Mian Khan group was gunned down on March 4 at Dhoop Sarri village and a case was registered against 13 people, including Asghar (now deceased) and Imran and Basharat, of the rival group.

The police, however, declared 10 of them innocent and three others -- Asghar, Imran and Basharat -- were set on bail by an additional district and sessions judge.