At least 10 people have been killed since March in separate incidents in Punjab’s Mandi Bahauddin, it emerged on Thursday.

According to the first information reports (FIR) of the incidents, copies of which are available with Dawn.com, the incidents took place from March 16 to May 20.

The incidents occurred within the jurisdictions of Malikwal, Gujrat, Phalia, Pahrianwali and Sadar Mandi police stations and the victims were killed in various ways, including shooting, torture, strangulation and poisoning.

All of the cases were registered under Sections 34 (common intention) and 302 (murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code, as well as other sections depending on the incident.

The dead included five women, four men and one unidentified victim while 30 suspects were mentioned in the FIRs, 20 named and 10 unidentified individuals.

On May 20, 55-year-old Zahra Bibi and her 2-year-old daughter Zainab were found dead in their home within the limits of Phalia police station on May 20.

According to the FIR registered on May 22, local residents found the front gate locked and upon entering the house, they found the victim’s bodies in separate rooms. The bodies were several days old and Zainab bore marks of strangulation.

The complainant accused Muhammad Ashraf and two unidentified suspects of committing the murders.

District Police Officer (DPO) Mandi Bahauddin visited the house, while forensic experts collected evidence from the crime scene.

Police could not be reached for comment about the other nine victims.

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