QUETTA, Feb 25: At least 12 tribesmen were killed and four others injured, two of them seriously, in an armed clash on Monday between two rival clans of Marri tribe, in Khatmundai area of Sibi district, some 200km of here.

“Firing between the two groups lasted several hours with both sides used automatic weapons,” Executive District Officer Sibi, Sardar Khan Bugti said while confirming the incident.

Sources said some people of Kalwani and Kingrani, two clans of Marri tribe, exchanged hot wards on Saturday over a dispute on distribution of water for wheat crop in Khatmundai area, 35km from Sibi. However, some elders intervened and resolved the issue at the time. On Sunday, people belonging to Kingrani clan beaten up a person of other clan who was passing through the fields on a camel. This incident led to an armed clash on Monday as tribesmen of both the sides took up positions in the early morning and started firing on each other.

The firing, which started around 10am, continued for at least eight hours. The warring groups fired rockets on each other’s positions, which resulted in killing of 12 persons from both sides.

District administration of Sibi rushed to Khatmundai after receiving information about the gun battle and started efforts to stop firing. With the help of elders of Marri tribe the administered succeeded in stopping firing between the two groups after several hours’ efforts.

Later, 16 people were brought to Civil Hospital Sibi where doctors confirmed death of 12 persons. Four injured people were admitted to the hospital. Later two of them shifted to Civil Hospital Quetta in view of their serious condition.

The tribesmen who were killed in the clashes include brothers and close relatives. They were identified as Kalay Khan, Sydal Khan, Bhutta Khan, Bahar Khan, Sobat Khan, Hayat Khan, Bado Khan, Karo Khan, Ghani Khan, Washal Khan, Jalal Khan and Mohammad Khan, while injured include Dur Mohammad Khan, Jamsher Khan, Ali Khan and Galay Kahn.