OKARA, Aug 4: Police claimed to have arrested seven criminals who had killed five members of a Christian family and injured six others. District Police Officer (DPO) Mirza Faran Baig told a press conference here on Saturday.

Baig said the police had arrested two people who killed a constable during an encounter. He said six cars stolen from Okara had been seized from tribal areas.

The DPO said the police had arrested Shera Masih, Shahzad Masih, Solicitor Masih, Shamoon Masih, Anthaal Masih, Ishaq Masih and Asif alias Billi Masih in connection with the murder of five of a family and seized daggers from them. He said these people had been arrested in Lahore, Multan and Sahiwal, but seven of their accomplices were still at large.

Similarly, Baig said the police had arrested two criminals who had shot dead constable Ghulam Qadir during an encounter near Jabooka village in Satgrah police precincts.

He also claimed that the police had arrested car lifters Rana Naeeem of Faisalabad and Ashiq alias Ashqi of Okara. He said both the accused had links with the car lifters of the NWFP and they used to steal cars from Okara and then sell them in tribal areas. He said raids were being conducted to arrest car lifters Munir Khan of the NWFP and Safdar and Wajid of Sialkot.

The DPO also claimed that police had seized stolen and snatched valuables worth Rs40 million from criminals during the last seven months.

TWO KILLED: Two people were killed and another was injured in separate incidents here on Saturday.