NOWSHERA, March 30: Several people were injured in a scuffle between Afghans in the refugee repatriation centre in the Jalozai camp here on Friday.Officials said that the scuffle had started when several Afghans argued about who got to be screened first as hundreds of Afghan families thronged the repatriation centre. The situation became more chaotic as more and more people joined the fist-fight, leaving dozens injured. They were taken to a hospital in Peshawar.

The camp’s security staff and police also resorted to baton-charge to disperse the Afghans, who protested and blocked the Cherat Road for some time. The Afghans alleged that some officials had received money from them and given them fake registration cards.

Witnesses said the scuffle took place because of inadequate arrangements made by the UNHCR at the repatriation centre. They said that the situation worsened when some Afghans tried to get past the people standing in a queue by shoving and pushing.

Later, Nowshera DPO Mohammad Tahir Khan called in two Frontier Constabulary platoons to bring the situation under control.