GUJRAT, April 17: Seven members of a family, including five children, were killed and three others injured allegedly by their relatives over an old enmity in Kalu Sahi village of Dinga on Sunday night.

Reports said Aslam along with 24 accomplices entered the house of Umar Hayat and sprayed a volley of bullets on family members.

Umar Hayat, his wife Naseem Bibi, three daughters — Adeeba (13), Sana (10) and Oome Rahman (8) — and two sons — Ali Hasan (5) and Shahid Raza (3) — died instantly. Afshan (19), Farwa (14) and Farooq (15) sustained critical injuries and were taken to hospital.

Aslam and Hayat are close relatives and belong to the Jat biradari.

Dinga police claim that Aslam had committed the crime to avenge the murder of his brother, Ayub, who was killed a year ago.

The police have registered a case against 19 nominated and six unidentified accused.

This shocking incident shows that the law and order situation is fast deteriorating in the district.

According to the statistics given by sources, some 500 people are murdered annually in the district.

Murder incidents and other heinous crimes during the last four years have placed the Gujrat district on top throughout the province.

Former law minister Chaudhry Farooq and five companions were murdered by rivals near Dandi Baisa on Dec 29, 2002.

Chaudhry Shamraiz of Chokorry Bheelowal along with six others was murdered by rivals near the Kharian sessions court on June 19, 2003.

On May 17, 2004, in Madina Syedan village more than 20 people, including Chaudhry Shaqi of Ghandra and Chaudhry Mumtaz, were murdered over a minor dispute by Shahs of Madina Syedan.

Three-time former MNA Syed Manzoor Husain Shah and three accomplices were killed by rivals of Dhola village near Mekan on Jan 2, 2005.

Eight people of Ghulam Abbas Warraichanwala group were murdered by rival Mian Khan of Dheenda group outside the Kharian sessions court on June 9, 2005.

The fresh incident has taken place in Kalu Sahi village where rivals have brutally murdered a couple and their five children.