LAHORE/TOBA TEK SINGH: In a shocking display of a security lapse, five armed men stormed the Saddar police station in Tandlianwala tehsil of Faisalabad district, killing three brothers and critically injuring their cousin who were in custody on murder charges.
The attackers, allegedly from the Kharral group, scaled the police station walls using a bamboo ladder, reached the lock-up, and opened fire on their rivals, all within minutes. They escaped without facing resistance, as only three policemen out of 64 posted at the station were present at the time.
The victims, identified as Muhammad Bilal, Muhammad Usman, and Nasir Ali of the Sukhera group, were accused of murdering members of the Kharral group in an ongoing feud that has claimed eight lives from each side. The injured, Muhammad Asif, was rushed to Tandlianwala THQ Hospital in critical condition.
Security Lapse Investigation Ordered
Initial inquiries revealed that 61 personnel assigned to the police station had left for their homes, leaving the detainees on physical remand almost unguarded. Despite written instructions from senior officials to ensure tight security due to the intense rivalry, these directives were ignored, resulting in the deadly breach.
Faisalabad Regional Police Officer (RPO) Dr. Abid Khan confirmed that the assailants entered through the station’s roof after finding the main gate locked. A lone constable fired warning shots but had to retreat under heavy gunfire from the attackers.
Dr. Khan stated that the rivalry between the Sukhera and Kharral groups began in March 2023 and has since escalated into a series of retaliatory killings. The Sukhera group allegedly killed three members of the Kharral group in October 2023, leading to the arrests of the now-deceased detainees.
Accountability Measures
Inspector General of Police Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar has taken strict notice of the negligence, forming a three-member inquiry committee led by DIG Intelligence Faisal Raja to identify and hold those responsible accountable. Faisalabad police have reportedly arrested at least 10 suspects from the Kharral group, though official confirmation is awaited.
The committee will investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack, aiming to set a precedent for accountability in cases of gross negligence.
