KASUR: Two men died, while five others suffered injuries when two rival groups exchanged fire on Monday over a three-year-old dispute at Bhonikay village in the Pattoki police limits.

According to police, Ahmed Ali and Munir, both residents of Bhonikey village, developed enmity over sewage disposal in the street where they lived, some three years back.

Ahmed got a case registered against Munir that was being heard by a court at Pattoki.

On Monday, when the two parties were on their way to tehsil courts to attend the case hearing, they came face to face and exchanged words, leading to exchange of fire between them.

As a result, both Ali and Munir suffered critical bullet injuries and died on the spot, while Arshad (of Ali group) and Javid, Bashir Ahmed, Shahid Ali and Fazeel (of the rival group) were injured.

The injured were rushed to the Pattoki Tehsil Headquarters Hospital for treatment.

Police also shifted the bodies of Ali and Munir to the hospital for autopsy.

Rest of the of the men from both parties managed to escape. Police said they were looking into the matter.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2023