KURRAM: Two people were killed and around 40 injured when two tribes traded fire over a land dispute here on Thursday.

The police and district administration said armed clashes between Boshehra and Maleekhel tribesmen began on Wednesday evening.

They said that a jirga of elders from Hangu and Orakzai districts reached thetroubled area for a ceasefire between the two tribes.

Deputy commissioner Javedullah Mehsud said the jirga was striving to broker a truce between the two tribes. Medical superintendent of district headquarters hospital in Parachinar Dr Mir Hassan Jan said 14 injured people were under treatment in the hospital.

He said all possible care would be provided to the injured. District police officer Nisar Ahmad Khan said the police and security personnel would be deployed in the area after the ceasefire.

Sources said both sides used heavy weapons to target each other’s positions.

They said three people, including a man and his son, were injured when a rocket landed in the Balishkhel area.

Also, rocket shells were fired in the Tari Mangal and Peewar areas here.

The tensions disrupted traffic in the area as people kept their vehicles off the main road.

Meanwhile, local social and political activists expressed concern about the delicate law and order situation and said armed clashes were often exploited by vested interest.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2024