ABBOTTABAD: Tension has gripped Havelian area of Abbottabad district after a clash between rival groups claimed seven lives on Friday evening.

The district police officer deployed a heavy contingent of police in the Ghari Pulgran village to ensure safe funeral of the deceased and to keep calm.

The police have arrested five accused nominated by both the sides, three from one group and two from the other, while search for two others continued, said a district police spokesman on Saturday.

The clash between the groups erupted on Friday evening after a dispute over a cricket match. Later, members of Syed group went to the Rajoiya police post to lodge an FIR, where the members of rival Jadoon group, also reached.

In the meantime, the rivals exchanged harsh words despite efforts by the personnel deputed at the police post tried to pacify them. Later, more supporters of the two groups came there and a cross fire ensured, which resulted in the death of Sohrab Khan, Rashid Khan, Ashfaq Khan and Usman Khan and injuring of Arshad Khan from the Jadoon group. From the Syed group, Mukhtiar Shah, Anwar Shah and Shaukat Shah were killed.

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2018