DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Rivals shot dead three members of a family early on Monday morning here.

Saddar circle sub-divisional police officer Hafiz Mohammad Adnan said one Qasim Khan lodged a report with Dera town police station, stating that Armanullah, Rehmatullah, Yusuf and Sadar Azam attacked him, his father Ahmed Khan Mehsud, 55, younger brother Naseebullah Mehsud, 30, and a cousin, Allauddin Mehsud, 38, when they were returning from a nearby mosque after offering the morning prayers.

As a result, he said his father Ahmed, Naseebullah, and Allauddin died on the spot, while he narrowly escaped the attack.

The police officer said a case was registered under sections 302, 324 and 34 of PPC against the accused named in the report submitted by Qasim Mehsud, the son of slain Ahmad Mehsud, and later two of the accused along with a 9mm pistol were arrested.

According to the police, the motive behind the attack was a dispute over women.

-Correspondent