TAXILA: Four individuals were killed, and one minor was injured in three separate incidents in the Taxila and Hazro regions on Saturday, police sources said.

In the first incident, a renowned trader was killed, and his minor daughter was injured when a gang of six armed bandits attempted to break into his house by cutting the grill in Mohallah Mashragiabad, within the jurisdiction of the Taxila Police station.

Police sources said that Ikram Ellahi was sleeping in his house when a gang of six robbers tried to infiltrate his home during the early hours of Saturday. As the trader woke up and fired shots at the bandits, one was killed instantly, while the fleeing robbers opened fire, hitting the trader and his minor daughter. The trader sustained gunshot injuries and died on the spot, while his daughter was critically injured. The injured and the deceased were taken to the tehsil headquarters hospital; the girl was later transferred to Rawalpindi due to her critical condition.

Meanwhile, a 51-year-old man was shot dead in front of a mosque in the Muneerabad area, within the limits of the Wah Saddar Police station.

Police sources said that 51-year-old Asif Khan was heading to offer Fajar prayers when a masked man hiding near the mosque fired shots at him; he died instantly. The killers managed to escape from the scene successfully.

Furthermore, a friend beat his teenage friend to death in Kotkay village, within the jurisdiction of Hazro Police Station.

The victim`s mother reported to police that her 15-year-old son, Abubakar Siraj, had a heated exchange with his friend Abdullah Rustam over some dispute, and out of rage, Abdullah attacked him with sticks, resulting in head injuries.

The boy was transferred to the tehsil headquarters hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Respective police registered separate cases and launched further investigations. Correspondent