GUJRAT, June 11: At least ten people have been killed and half-a-dozen injured by rival groups during the last two weeks on the premises of district and sessions courts in Gujrat and Kharian due to inadequate security measures by the district police. On Thursday, nine people of Warriachanwala group were murdered, and their five associates injured critically, allegedly by Dheenda group men outside Kharian sessions court. The attackers managed to escape easily. The incident took place only yards away from the Sadar police station, and offices of DSP and Rescue 15.

It is believed that some of the armed attackers were already present outside the court, while the remaining reached there chasing the victims.

About two weeks ago, a man Sajjad Hussain was shot dead, while his friend Arif was critically injured by their rivals outside the Gujrat sessions court.

Earlier, on June 19, 2003, Shamraiz Iqbal of Chokorry Bheelowal village and six others were shot dead by their rivals a few yards away from the sessions court. Shamraiz was returning home after attending a murder case hearing. The killers escaped from the scene.

Similarly, on Oct 24, 2003, Shabbir of Randheer village was shot dead by his rivals over an old enmity on GT Road opposite the kharian sessions court.

Former AJK minister Chaudhry Shahid Hameed was also shot dead in the district courts premises some three years ago in Gujrat.

The Kharian sessions and tehsil courts fall in the jurisdiction of Sadar police, while the Gujrat sessions court in the Civil Lines police station.

It is learnt that rival groups usually carry weapons in their vehicles during their visits to the courts and that police did not check this menace.

Citizens have demanded the authorities concerned to take notice of the situation and order proper security steps to save the lives of the people visiting these courts.