PESHAWAR, Dec 19: A shootout between two rival groups in the village of Takhtabad has claimed the lives of two persons, police said on Monday. One person was injured in the clash, police said.

The shootout was triggered by an exchange of harsh words between Syed Jaffar Shah and Usman Sher. Fazal Husain and Usman Sher, members of the rival groups, died in the firing.

Mr Shah, who registered an FIR in Daudzai police station over the incident, said Usman Sher and his brother Khurshid had intercepted him and his son Fazal Hussain as they was travelling to the city for business purposes.

Mr Shah alleged that the two brothers opened fire on them after a brief scuffle. Fazal, 29, was killed in the shootout.

But a member of other group, Khurshid, who received critical bullet injuries, claimed that the deceased Fazal had opened fire on them when he and his brother were going home. As a result his brother Usman died on the spot, he said, while he received bullet wounds.

Police have registered a case and started investigations. —APP