GILGIT: Four people, among them two brothers, were killed over possession of a fallen tree here on Friday.

An official of the Basin police station told Dawn on condition of anonymity that after the dispute over possession of tree erupted, police had confiscated the tree, and started investigating the matter.

However, on Friday accused Haq Nawaz, who claimed ownership of the tree, opened fire with a pistol on his rivals, critically injuring four persons.

The injured were shifted to the district headquarters hospital, Gilgit, where they died of their wounds. The victims were identified as Asif, 14, Abdul Hadi, 30, the two brothers; and Abdul Aziz, while the name of the fourth victim could not be ascertained.

After postmortemandlegal procedure the bodies were handed over to relatives for their burial.Police said the accused Haq Nawaz had been arrested and an FIR registered against him. Police said the pistol used in the incident was also seized.

CHINESE DRIVER KILLED: A driver of a Chinese truck was killed when his vehicle plunged into Hunza River at Sust near Khunjerab border on Friday.

Police said a container bringing imported goods from China arrived at Sust port on Thursday. After unloading the goods at the port, the Chinese driver headed back to his country. However, the container plunged into the Hunza River near Sust village, killing the driver on the spot. Local people shifted the body to hospital.

Police said af ter conducting legal procedure the body of the Chinese driver would be sent to his country.

Thousands of Chinese goods containers arrive at Sust port annually.