SHANGLA: Two people were killed and three injured when rival groups traded fire over a land dispute in Lilownai area of Alpuri here on Sunday morning.

Rescue 1122, Shangla spokesperson Rasool Khan Sharif told Dawn that the clash left two people, including Amanullah and Shafiullah, dead and three others critically injured. He said a rescue team shifted the bodies and the injured to the District Headquarters Hospital.

Alpuri police station SHO Fazal Elahi said following the incident the police arrested two persons, namely Rafiullah and Karimullah, from both the sides, and registered cases against them under Section 302 of Pakistan Penal Code.

He said the police had been deployed in the area to control any further flare-up in tensions between the two groups.

Meanwhile, heavy rain lashed Shangla district on Sunday after a long dry spell, turning the weather pleasant.

The rain also triggered a huge landslide, which blocked the Bisham-Swat Road near Machar area for hours.

A rescue official said a massive landslide fell on the busy road, stranding hundreds of vehicles. He said a rescue team reached the spot and started removing ruble, but continuing rain was hampering the road-clearing effort.

Published in Dawn,June 20th, 2022