FAISALABAD, June 11: A man was killed here on Saturday by police during an operation conducted to get a Rs100 million plot vacated, allegedly at the behest of some influential yarn traders. The police have arrested 21 of the nominated accused, including an inspector Ijaz Ahmad, while five others including two inspectors, Waheed Shahid son of PPP MPA Riaz Shahid, and Malik Tariq are still at large.

Reports said a police party conducted an operation at posh Canal Road to vacate a disputed residential plot worth 100 million from the possession of some ‘armed’ persons on Friday night.

Police claimed that the people in possession of the plot exchanged fire with the raiding party, injuring a constable, Muhammad Arif. Two members of the alleged Qabza group also sustained bullet injuries during the crossfire. Karam Elahi, one of the injured belonging the group, died at the Allied Hospital due to excessive bleeding. Raids are being conducted for the arrest of other accused.

Sources said two influential groups of the yarn market wanted to get possession of the plot. A party led by trader Muhammad Riaz occupied the plot on Thursday night but the other group ‘approached’ police, which conducted a swift operation to get the plot vacated.