GILGIT: A number of people, including the Hunza superintendent of police Tahira Yasub, received minor injuries when residents of Ganish village of Hunza and Nagar Khas area of Nagar clashed over a land dispute on the Karakoram Highway here on Monday.

Traffic on the KKH remained suspended for about 10 hours, stranding passengers.

It is to mention here that Ganish and Nagar Khas villagers claim ownership of a 20-kilometre area near Attabad.

The case over land ownership is pending in court.

Officials said the residents of Ganish village took a body to Dongas, the disputed area, for burial. However, the people of Nagar Khas also gathered there and tried to stop the burial, claiming both the parties were bound not to interfere into the disputed land under an agreement reached a few days ago.

The police said a clash took place between the two groups with members of both the parties pelting stones at each other.

The clash continued for hours, blocking the KKH.

Police fired tear gas and fired in the air to disperse the people.

Hunza SP Tahira Yasub received a minor injury when a stone hit her head. She was shifted to a hospital.

Meanwhile, Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts, FC and police personnel were deployed in the area to control the situation.

Elders also started negotiations between the groups to settle the dispute peacefully.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2022