LAHORE: “My sons were killed over just Rs30 – the life of one was valued at Rs15. One of them was nicknamed ‘Little Maxwell’ for his brilliant cricket batting,” said father of two brothers brutally beaten to death by fruit sellers over Rs30 dispute in Lahore’s Raiwind area.
Saeed Iqbal, a resident of Ratti Pindi village in Kot Radha Kishan tehsil, said his sons had been delivering milk to their shop on Barki Road before the fatal stop.
Fighting back tears, he told BBC Urdu: “The life of one of my sons cost Rs15; both my lion cubs were killed for Rs30. No one kills even animals the way they killed my sons. A man kept hitting them with a cricket bat while hundreds stood by making videos. What kind of society is this?”
An FIR of the murder was registered at the Raiwind City Police Station on Saeed Iqbal’s complaint against fruit seller Owais, his brother Taimur, and other unidentified accomplices.
According to the FIR, on August 21, Rashid and Wajid were returning home when they stopped to buy fruit in the Bhamba area. There, they argued with Owais and Taimur, who along with others allegedly attacked them with sticks and cricket bats. Both brothers died from their injuries.
He prayed, “May God never let this happen to the children of even my enemies.”
‘Crowd of dead people’
Sajid, another brother of the victims, said the dispute started when Rashid tried to buy bananas.
Owais demanded Rs130 for a dozen, but Rashid offered Rs100, saying he had only large notes besides.
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Owais agreed, but Taimur allegedly began swearing, prompting Rashid and Wajid to object. The quarrel quickly escalated into violence.
“There were 250-300 people present,” Sajid said bitterly. “I call them the dead, because no one had the humanity to intervene.”
The Little Maxwell
Sajid described his slain brother, Wajid, as a talented cricketer loved by all, known locally as “Little Maxwell” after the Australian batsman Glenn Maxwell.
“People invited him to play in tournaments and even paid him 10,000-15,000 rupees,” Sajid recalled.
Rashid, the elder brother, was 28 and the father of four children.
Fruit sellers arrested
According to the Superintendent of Police (Investigation), Saddar Circle, the clash stemmed from the payment dispute.
He said when the brothers tried to pay, they had only a Rs5,000 and a Rs100 note. The fruit seller demanded Rs30 in change or suggested they return the bananas. Heated words followed, leading to scuffles.
“First, the two deceased brothers beat up the fruit seller together,” SP Ali said.
“Then other cart owners called in the seller’s brothers and nearby vendors joined. They attacked the two brothers with sticks, causing severe head injuries. Both were shifted to hospital in critical condition but died of their wounds.”
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The SP added that both Owais and Taimur have been arrested, while efforts are underway to trace their unidentified accomplices.