MULTAN: Seven people, including six members of a family, were killed in a clash between two families over a trifle at village Tulamba of Khanewal district on Sunday.

The Rajput family used to stop Sukhera families from using the state land as a passage to reach their outhouse. On Sunday, they opened fire on the Sukheras and killed four siblings, Abida, Khalida, Abdul Majeed and Abdul Kareem, their uncle Zulfiqar Ali and cousin Maqbool who was a guest in their home. Muhammad Rafique of Rajput family was also killed in the firing. Two other persons were reportedly injured.

According to police, the outhouse of the Sukheras was located near the residence of the Rajputs and they used to forbid the Sukheras from using the state land as passage along their residence.

The Sukheras said they had lodged an FIR with Tulamba police on the complaint of Abdul Kareem after receiving death threats from the Rajputs. When the police quashed the FIR, they submitted another application to the police a couple day back. However, police didn’t take any action.

On Saturday, Maqbool, a cousin, came to meet them and they arranged his stay at the outhouse. The next day when the family was going to see off the guest, the Rajputs allegedly opened fire on them and killed six members of Sukhera family. One member of the Rajputs, identified as Rafique, was also killed.

Khanewal District Police Officer Jahanzeb Nazir Khan said six people had been arrested with weapons. However, police have not filed an FIR yet.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2015

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