Firing by former MP Shahid Akhlaq’s son and brother injured two persons on Tuesday night in the Gudri Bazar area of Kotwali police station. The incident is claimed to be the fallout of an argument among children during a cricket match.

A case has been registered by the family members of injured Aashiq Elahi and Amaan, naming six persons including former MP`s brother Rashid Akhlaq and son Saqib Akhlaq. The police, however, are yet to arrest the two.

Meanwhile, the local residents staged a protest demanding an immediate arrest of the accused. The angry protestors were dispersed by the police after using a mild force.

SP (City) AN Singh told that Rashid and Saqib have been charged with firing and they have been named in the complaint along with four others. Three accused, including Sameer and Salman, were arrested late in the night and raids are being conducted to nab the remaining.

Salauddin Qureshi is a resident of the Gudri Bazar area and close to the family of Shahid Akhlaq and Ashiq Ali, a resident of the nearby Karam Ali locality. Children of both the families had gone to play cricket on Tuesday morning. During the game, Salauddin and Ashiq Ali had an altercation over some issue but it was soon sorted out after the intervention of local residents.

Later, Salauddin reported the matter to the family of the former MP after which he went to Ali`s shop along with Saqib and Rashid and other supporters. They allegedly thrashed Ali and his friends after which Rashid and Saqib allegedly fired from their pistols which injured Ali and Amaan who were immediately taken to the district hospital. Some of the supporters of Ali were also injured in the firing.

A counter FIR was lodged against Ali and his supporters for pelting stones at the house of the former MP after which they were forced to fire in self-defense, told  Dinesh Shukla, CO Kotwali, adding that it has been claimed in the counter-complaint that the son and brother of former MP have been falsely implicated and speculation is rife that someone in the crowd was behind the firing.

“We have not registered a case on their complaint and investigation is underway to verify facts,” said Shukla, adding that the process of cancelling firearm licenses under the name of the former MP`s family members has been started and a detailed report with the recommendation would be sent to the district magistrate by Wednesday night.