KARACHI, May 18: Four persons, including a minor boy and his father, were killed during a clash over a petty issue in Landhi’s Mansehra Colony on Friday, police said.

They said the incident took place within the remit of the Sharafi Goth police station after Friday prayers, when the slippers of a man, identified as Zakaullah, went missing from an area mosque.

A duty officer at the Sharafi Goth police station said Zakaullah asked some children about his slippers and they reportedly informed him that some children belonging to a policeman’s family might have a hand in the matter.

Zakaullah came to the home of Farooq, the policeman, from where his relative Fazal Mehmood came out. An altercation broke out between the two following Zakaullah’s allegation and armed men from both sides gathered at the scene, pulled out their guns and opened fire on each other, the duty officer said, adding that two person each from both sides were killed.

Those killed in the incident were identified as Fazal Mehmood, 52, his 10-year-old son Hayat Fazal, and Siraj Ahmed and Dua Sher from the other side.

A woman, Riyasat Bibi, and a passer-by were also wounded in the firing.

The dead and wounded were taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for medico-legal formalities and treatment.

Area DSP Fateh Muhammad said Fazalullah had recently got married.

He said it appeared that the slippers theft was an excuse for the clash as both groups had a dispute over a piece of land in the locality.

Meanwhile, following the incident, Rangers carried out raids in the area and detained about six suspects. They were taken towards an undisclosed location and were not handed over to the police.

Till late in the night, no case was registered at the Sharafi Goth police station.