BAJAUR: Residents of Arang Bado area of Utmankhel tehsil here on Monday agreed to the immunisation of their children after ending boycott of the ongoing five-day anti-polio drive following talks with the officials.

A statement issued from the deputy commissioner’s office said the residents had declined vaccination of their children in protest against authorities’ alleged indifference to their demands of carpeting a dirt road and launching a water supply scheme.

After the matter was reported by the health department officials, a team of district administration led by Khar tehsil assistant commissioner Hamza Zahoor visited the area and held a meeting with the villagers, assuring them of taking up their demands with the quarters concerned.

The officials asked the villagers to not link vaccination of their children with petty matters in future.

CLASH: A clash between two groups over a land dispute in Maminzoo locality of Khar tehsil left 10 people injured on Monday, Rescue 1122 officials and residents said.

They said people associated with Farman Khan and Sabaz Ali groups were sitting in a jirga called by elders to resolve the dispute, when some men from the two sides started arguing.

They said the exchange of harsh words prompted others to also get involved in the brawl.

The residents said people from both the groups used knives, stones and sticks during the fight that continued for half an hour until a group of locals reached the spot and got them dispersed.

A rescue official said 10 persons, including a woman, were wounded in the clash. He said six of the injured were taken to the District Headquarters Hospital, Khar, while the remaining were provided first aid on the spot.

The police did not register the case on the request of elders, who said the issue would be settled through jirga.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2021