Five killed, three injured in Bhakkar clash over land

BHAKKAR: Five people were killed and three others were injured in Bhakkar on Saturday after a dispute over a small piece of land and access to a water channel turned into an exchange of gunfire, police said.

The incident took place in Basti Chandia, which falls within the jurisdiction of Behal police station. According to police sources, the confrontation began over a six-inch strip of land near a watercourse and later escalated into a deadly clash between rival groups.

Officials said five people died at the scene, while three others suffered serious injuries. The bodies and the injured were taken to District Headquarters Hospital Bhakkar. After post-mortem examinations were completed, the bodies were handed over to the heirs.

Police identified the deceased as 45-year-old Muhammad Aslam, son of Muhammad Abdu, and his two sons, 18-year-old Muhammad Azhar and 19-year-old Mazhar Abbas. The other two victims were identified as 28-year-old Niaz Niazi and 28-year-old Wasim Sajjad.

The deaths of three members of the same family in the same incident led to scenes of grief in the area. Funeral prayers for the deceased were later offered in their native locality, where a large number of residents and people from different walks of life attended.

The injured were identified as 30-year-old Sajjad Hussain, 35-year-old Shafi and 60-year-old Amanullah. All three were shifted to DHQ Hospital Bhakkar for treatment. Hospital sources said one of the injured remained in critical condition.

Police response

District Police Officer Bhakkar Shahzad Rafiq Awan took notice of the incident and said action was under way against those involved. He said special teams had been constituted to arrest the suspects and that raids were being conducted at multiple locations.

Medical Superintendent DHQ Hospital Bhakkar Dr Haroon Tahir said all the injured persons and bodies were brought to the hospital immediately after the incident.

The clash cast a pall over the locality, particularly because three of those killed belonged to one family. Police said the violence stemmed from what began as a minor dispute but quickly intensified into a gun battle.