MANSEHRA, April 21: Five persons were killed and another four suffered critical injuries when a member of Tableeghi Jamaat opened firing on his associates and local residents in Pashto area of Allai on Saturday.

“In this unfortunate incident five members of Tableeghi Jamaat have been killed and another four injured after their colleague opened firing on them,” said Ghulam Hussain, the Battagram District Police Officer, while talking to mediapersons.

A group of Tableeghi Jamaat from Tank was on a preaching mission in a mosque in Pashto area when one of its members identified as Rizwanullah opened firing on his colleagues after snatching a Kalashnikov from a local man, killing five of them on the spot and leaving four others injured.The deceased were identified as Ahmadullah of Bannu, Jahangir and Mir Ali of Lakki Marwat, Fazalur Rehman of Pashto area and Subz Ali of Tank.

The injured included Ibrar, Shahbahan, Wali Mohammad and Sher Baz, who were taken to Allai hospital and then referred to district headquarters hospital in Battagram.

The Battagram DCO said that the assailant had been arrested and police were investigating the real motive behind the incident. He added that someone had told him that the assailant was insane. “It is a sensitive issue and we would investigate it thoroughly to know the real cause behind the killings.” The Allai police after registering FIR against the accused started investigation.