An exchange of fire between two groups near Chontra police station in Rawalpindi left nine dead, including women and children, and a three-year-old girl injured, here on Saturday.

According to police, five women and four children died when members of an armed group barged into a house and opened indiscriminate firing on Friday. The children were aged between 1-3 years old.

Rawalpindi police said it arrested two suspects and recovered weapons from them.

Raids were being conducted for the arrest of the main suspect and his accomplices, police said.

Police claim that the incident was the fallout of an old rivalry.

Taking notice of the incident, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar had ordered City Police Officer (CPO) Rawalpindi to submit a report in this regard.

The chief minister has ordered that the culprits involved be arrested as soon as possible. “Action will be taken against those involved.”