SHEIKHUPURA, May 9: A dozen gunmen hijacked a police van and killed their three rivals in chains near the Judges Colony here on Monday. Reports said the assailants intercepted the van carrying under-trial prisoners near the court premises and drove it away to a forest near the Judges’ Colony where they shot Zulfiqar alias Nanha, Usman and Waheed.

The police said the deceased were wanted in various cases of murder, dacoity and abduction for ransom.

The attackers also reportedly kidnapped three armed policemen who could not be recovered.

Meanwhile, Umer Din, grandfather of Zulfiqar, filed an application with District and Sessions Judge Allah Buksh Ranjha, stating that neither police van was hijacked nor any policeman was abducted by the ‘rivals’.

He alleged that all the three prisoners were killed by the police. Umer Din said he was present in front of the main gate when the slain men in police custody came out of the jail. He alleged that the rival group had bribed the police to kill them in encounter.

He requested for a probe into his allegations.

TWO KILLED: Two people were killed during an armed clash between two rival groups on Monday in Herdev village, some 12km away from here.

Reports said two groups led by Naseer and Abdul Sattar had an old enmity. On Monday, they traded fire as a result Akram of Naseer group and Suleman of Abdul Sattar group were killed on the spot. No arrest was made.

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