MANSEHRA: Four people, including a woman, were killed and as many injured when rival groups exchanged fire over a land dispute in Khalyar area of Kolai-Palas (Kohistan) district on Sunday.

District police officer Amjad Hussain told reporters that groups led by Ilyas Sharango and Mustajab Shamir traded fire.

He said Ilyas Sharango and his family members were on way back home from their summer abode in a mountainous part when the rival group led by Mustajab Shamir intercepted them in Khalyar area, and opened indiscriminate fire, leaving Sharango, Lal Mohammad and Gul Bibi dead, and Riaz Kabal, Tasleem Siraj and Zahir Shah seriously injured.

DPO Hussain said the Sharango group retaliated to the fire, killing Mustajab Shamir and injured another, Peer Wali Shah.

A police party shifted the deceased and the injured to Civil Hospital Pattan in Lower Kohistan district. The bodies were handed to families after completion of medico-legal formalities.

The injured were shifted to Ayub Medical Complex Hospital, Abbottabad.

DPO Hussain said that both the groups were closed relatives. He said the police were conducting raids to arrest the accused from both the sides.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2024