Ashraf Khan alias Mama Changarr, leader of a notorious inter-district gang of dacoits, and his five accomplices were killed when they were fired at by one of their own friends in fields in front of Shakargarh railway station on Wednesday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday.  

The man, however, managed to escape after the incident.

Soon after the killings, police reached the site, cordoned off the area and started collecting the forensic evidence.

DSP Malik Khalil told the media that one-and-a-half months back, members of the gang had committed robbery in the house of one of their own friends, Usama Younus. “And in order to take revenge, Usama asked the outlaws to come to the fields where he made them drink a soft drink mixed with intoxicants and later shot them dead before fleeing from the spot.  

The DSP further said that Kalashnikovs and a large quantity of weapons had been recovered from the slain dacoits. “Some of the gang members were not locals, and belonged to Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Sialkot and Lahore. One of those killed was later identified as Shaheen alias Suri of Sheikhupura,” he explained.   

The official said that a hunt had been launched to arrest Usama.

Reporter: Ishtiaq Rabbani