KASUR: At least 15 people, including women, were injured as two rival groups clashed at Chak 69 and the Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital Pattoki over old enmity on Thursday.

The rival groups of Manzoor and Saleem exchanged fire first at Chak 69 and a heavy contingent of police had to move to the village to control the situation. The rival groupstookasecondround of shooting at the THQ Hospital Pattoki when the injured were brought there. Panic spread in the hospital when members of the two groups resorted to firing once again and scuffled. Doctors and paramedics had to hide themselves at safe places to save their lives.

Manzoor and Saleem`s groups are daggers drawnfor the last several years over petty issues. On Thursday, they again came face to face before exchanging harsh words and later fire. The firing in the village as well as THQ hospital left at least 15 people wounded. The injured were identified as Faisal, Sajid, Asif, Shazia, Arshad, Rashid, Gulnaz, Niamat Ali, Abu Bakar, Muhammad Fageer, Manzoor, Abdul Ghafoor, Haneefan, Peveez, Nasir and Nazia. Of them, Faisal and Arshad were referred to a Lahore hospital owing to their critical condition.

DROWNS: A boy drowned in the Bambanwali-Bedian-Ravi (BR B) Canal while bathing in it near village Qadiwind.

Rehan, 15, went to the canal to bathe along with his friends. While taking a bath, he went into deep water and drowned. Police handed over the body to the bereaved family.