LANDI KOTAL, Nov 9: Two days of bloody clashes between rival groups in the Bara Qambarkhel area of Bara were followed by looting of houses on Thursday, sources said. Law-enforcement personnel resorted to firing and shelling on positions of the Haji Namdar group to stop the looting of houses in the Takia locality, the base of the Sheikhmalkhel tribe, which had been occupied by armed supporters of Haji Namdar on Wednesday night.

The atmosphere remained tense but the local administration was able to stop the fighting between the Haji Namdar group and the Sheikhmalkhel group. The clashes have claimed two lives since Tuesday.

Talking to reporters, Murad Saqi, a leader of Sheikhmalkhel group, accused the rival group of looting nearly 50 houses. He alleged that law-enforcement agencies had pounded their positions with mortars shells, forcing them to flee. He alleged that the Namdar group activists had been given a free hand to run over their positions and loot their houses.