Two brothers were killed and 15 others were injured on Thursday in an exchange of fire between two groups in Qandani, some eight kilometers from Feroza near Rahim Yar Khan. The injured were taken to Shaikh Zayed Hospital, where four of them were said to be in critical condition.
Police said some men from the Aarain caste and Chandiya Baloch caste had had an argument over a passage. Both sides claimed the passage came in their area.
On Thursday, the argument led to firing from both sides.
Two men of the Aarain group, identified as Abdul Samad and Mukhtar Ahmad, died on the spot. Fifteen men, including Siraj Ahmad and Abdul Hayee- brothers of the deceased- were also injured. They were taken to the hospital, where Ahmad and Hayee, and Bakht Ali and Hafeezullah from the Baloch tribe were said to be in critical condition. They were later shifted to Pucca Laran Hospital and Feroza Hospital.
Some members of the Aarain family later staged a protest against the killing. They placed the bodies on the road and shouted slogans against police for not acting against the killers.
Liaqatpur DSP Malik Tanveer Ahmad and the Pucca Laran and Liaqatpur police arrived at the scene. They assured the protesters that police had started investigation.
Police later registered a case against seven men- Nazeer Ahmad, Muhammad Aslam, Abdul Sattar, Shah Muhammad, Zia Ahmad, Mushtaq Ahmad and Muhammad Ayub. Abdul Kareem, a relative of the deceased, was identified as the complainant. The bodies were sent for a post-mortem examination.
The DSP said that the police had been told to stay alert to deal with any reactions to the killings.
Man shoots, injures friend
Also on Thursday, a man was shot and injured by a friend for allegedly harassing the latter’s wife. The injured man was later locked in a room, from where he was rescued by Baghdadul Jadeed police, whom he had contacted through their helpline.
Muhammad Shahzad told police that his friend Muhammad Akram had invited him to a dinner at his house. After the dinner, he said, Akram went into his room to answer a call on the phone.
Meanwhile, he said, Akram’s wife came over and sat near him. He said when Akram came out of the room and saw them, his wife accused him of harassing her. He said Akram rushed back into the room and brought a pistol. He shot him and locked him in a room.
He said he contacted police using his cell phone. On hearing the police siren, he said, Akram fled. Shahzad was taken to a hospital, where he was later said to be out of danger.
Police said they were looking for Akram. They said police were also monitoring his wife.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 24th, 2014.