SHIKARPUR, June 21: Nine people, seven of them women, were killed and 12 others suffered serious bullet injuries in a fierce clash between two rival groups of the Shar tribe near the village of Rakhial-ji-Wandh in taluka Garhi Yasin on Monday.

It is learnt that the two groups used rockets, Kalashnikovs, shotguns and other weapons in the clash which lasted for three hours. The villagers killed were identified as Abdul Khaliq Shar, Badaruddin Shar, Gul Pari, wife of Hazoor Bux Shar, Waziran wife of Haji Raees Shar, Humaira, daughter of Haji Ranjhu Shar, Gul Pari, wife of Amir Bux Shar, Ms Waziran, wife of Saeed Ahmed Shar, Sughra, wife of Ubedullah, and Husna, wife of Hussain Shar.

The injured were taken to hospitals in Shikarpur and Larkana. The clash is said to the result of an old enmity between the two groups. No FIR was lodged till the filing of this report. Some policemen are reported to be at the place to maintain calm.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that the clash occurred after Nazir Shar, the brother of Ghulam Mustafa Shar, was allegedly injured by the group belonging to Azizullah Shar some weeks ago.

No compromise could be reached despite efforts of the Azizullah group. It was learnt that three or four persons were injured in earlier clashes. Police officials said that nine people belonging to both the groups had been arrested.