LODHRAN:
A grazing dispute escalated into a violent clash in Shahpur Phal, a suburb of Kehror Pakka, leaving three people dead and six others injured, including two in critical condition.
The altercation began Thursday when goats entered a wheat field, sparking an argument between two groups. The confrontation turned deadly as both sides opened fire.
The deceased were identified as Malik Tariq Phal, Malik Dilshad Shana Phal, and Baqir. From the first group, Nasir, son of Wahid, succumbed to injuries, while Khalid (35), Rizwan (24), and Irfan (16) were wounded. In the second group, Dilshad was killed, and Allah Wasaya (60) and Allah Bachaya (70) sustained injuries.
Upon receiving reports of the gunfire, DSP Kehror Pakka Muhammad Rizwan Khan, accompanied by local police and rescue teams, arrived at the scene. The injured were transported to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital for treatment, and the deceased were taken into custody for investigation.
Sources revealed the dispute was fueled by long-standing tensions over a pathway. DSP Rizwan Khan confirmed the groups were close relatives and promised strict action against those involved.
In a related incident earlier in September, a decade-old feud between two groups in Lodhran over a goat led to the deaths of two individuals, raising the total fatalities in the conflict to seven.
In the Darbar Qurban Shah area, the Ranjha group ambushed the Sharif group, killing Muhammad Sharif, the group’s head, and his nephew Najam. Two other members of the Sharif group were injured.
The victims’ families protested outside the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital, accusing local police of failing to deliver justice. They also complained of delays in conducting the post-mortem, despite an eight-hour wait.
