DADU: Fifteen people were seriously injured in a clash between two groups — one belonging to the Marri tribe and the other to the Khoso community — in the Rajri forest near Manjhand town on Friday.

Both sides freely used guns, axes and other lethal weapons in the battle which left 12 Marris and three Khosos injured, area residents and police said.

Sources at the Manjhand taluka hospital said that 12 victims — Babarak Khan, Nasir Khan, Allah Bux, Bandhi Khan, Murad Ali, Noor Khan, Hazur Khan, Ismail, Ali Raza, Riaz Ali, Aijaz Ali, Umid Ali, Subhan, Jan Mohammad and Khan Mohammad — with multiple wounds were admitted for emergency treatment.

An FIR against all 15 people was registered at the Manjhand police station and an investigation was started.

Initial reports suggested that one side objected to the grazing of the other side’s animals on its land which led to a quarrel and then a gun battle.

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2019