SAHIWAL: At least 10 people were injured, three of them critically, on Wednesday when two groups of rival clans clashed over a land dispute at 14/12-L village in Chichawatni tehsil.

As per Shah Kot police, Lohri and Vahniwal clans had an old enmity with each other over the ownership of a 19-acre piece of land and their cases were pending in lower courts.

The police said that on Wednesday, armed men of Lohri group attempted to occupy the disputed land, while Vehniwal group offered resistance.

Both sides exchanged words, after which a fight ensued in which clubs, iron rods and sticks were used, resulting in injuries to 10 people. The groups also resorted to aerial firing.

On being informed, a team of Shah Kot police reached the spot and took 15 men into custody.

The injured were shifted to Chichawatni THQ Hospital where Muzamil Hussain, Nasir and Khizer were said to be critical.

FIRING: A suspect was killed while a rickshaw driver was injured when the former opened fire on a team of Harappa police on Wednesday.

As per police, a police team signalled two motorcyclists at a checkpoint but they sped away. As the police gave a chase, the fleeing criminals opened fire and a bullet hit a passing by rickshaw driver, Hafeez, who was shifted to the DHQ Hospital.

In police’s firing, one of the suspects, Waheed, was injured and arrested, while his accomplice fled. Later Waheed, of Chak Bandi, succumbed to his injuries in a hospital.

Both suspects were wanted in cases of robbery and attempted murder, the police claim.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2021