NAWABSHAH: A fierce gun battle between two rival groups belonging to the Dahiri clan in a village near Shahpur Jahanian town of Qazi Ahmed taluka left seven people dead and 10 others wounded, two of them critically, on Sunday.

Officials at the Pubjo police station and residents of the area said that the two groups had been at odds for long over the ownership of a piece of agricultural land in Wahid Bakhsh Dahiri village. On Sunday, the rivals suddenly started attacking each other, they added.

The deceased were identified as Abdul Ghani, Mubin, Mohammed Ibrahim, Murad, Roshan, Mukhtiar (all Dahiris) and Bashir, who belonged to the Mallah community.

Nine of the wounded men were identified as Dilsher, Ghulam Qadir, Ghulam Shabbir, Hanif Shahi, Ghulam

Hasan, Saendad, Zahid, Ghulam Hyder and Saeed (all Dahiris).

They were admitted to the Peoples Medical University Hospital, Nawabshah, where condition of Ghulam Qadir and Ghulam Shabbir was stated to be critical.

The gun battle spread fear and panic in and around the village.

Shaheed Benazirabad SSP Tanveer Hussain Tunio along with a strong police force proceeded to the village to stop further bloodshed.

According to a press statement issued from CM House in Karachi, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has taken notice of the incident and expressed his sorrow over the heavy casualties.

He directed the Sindh police chief to get a detailed inquiry conducted and submit a report to him, besides ensuring restoration of peace in the area, the statement said.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2024