DADU: An armed clash between two groups of the Chandio tribe in the kutcha area along Sita village in Dadu district on Monday evening left five people dead and as many wounded.

Reports from the area suggested that the rival groups fought an hours-long battle for control of the forest land in the area, some 55 kilometres from Dadu town.

The deceased victims were identified as Shahmir, Pervaiz, Saleh, Niaz and Abdul Sattar Chandio.

The condition of one of the five wounded victims, Munwwar, was stated to be serious.

Dadu SSP Tariq Razzaque Dharejo, who identified the victims, told the media that the fresh round of clash started at about 10pm between the two groups, which had been fighting intermittently over the past several months.

He said those involved in the battle were criminals and wanted by the police in many cases of heinous crimes mainly murder, kidnapping for ransom, highway robbery and encounter with police.

He told this correspondent at around midnight that the bodies and the wounded victims were lying in the battle field but police could not transport them to a hospital as firing from both sides was still going on and several such attempts had failed.

He the area had been cordoned off and as soon as the fighting was over, the victims would be taken into custody.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2014