SHIKARPUR: Fears of the resurgence of a bloody episode that has already left 15 people dead and scores other wounded gripped Garhi Yasin on Tuesday when two Brohi tribesmen were gunned down allegedly by a group belonging to the rival Kakepota tribe in violation of a settlement between them.

The two tribes had intermittently been attacking each other since the murder of a man, Hashmat Brohi, about 30 years ago over a land dispute. Residents of Garhi Yasin had heaved a sigh of relief only a few months ago when the rival tribes agreed to bury the hatchet under a settlement, mediated by elders of several local tribes, by accepting compensations against their respective loss of life and property during the period of hostility.

In what appeared to be the first breach of the agreement, two Brohi tribesmen, Gulab Khan and Nizamuddin aka Sobho, were gunned down by some armed men riding motorcycles at Dakhan Naka within the town. The attack was blamed on the Kakepota tribe.

The assailants, waving their guns and firing into the air, fled the scene after killing the two men, said to be employees of the police department.

Markets, bazaars and shops in many localities around Dakhan Naka and some other parts of Garhi Yasin were closed amid a great deal of panic and fear of a flare-up.

A strong contingent of police led by Shikarpur SSP Zeeshan Shafiq Siddiqui moved into the troubled localities to prevent more violence.

Deployment was also made at many sensitive places within and around the town, the SSP said.

He said one of the deceased men was posted in Qambar and the other in Kashmore district. They were currently on leave to visit their native Sher Mohammed Brohi village of Garhi Yasin, he added.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2017