KOHAT, March 28: Twenty-two people were killed in ferocious gunbattles between Kachai and Mishti tribes on Thursday night, raising the death toll over six days of fighting to 51.

On Friday, elders of the two warring groups claimed they had thrashed out a ceasefire agreement. They said the fighting had displaced “thousands of people”.

An alliance of religious leaders representing the Bangash tribe of Kohat and Orakzai agency called for “disciplinary action” against the DCOs of Kohat and Hangu, accusing them of being “silent spectators” during the bloodbath.

Alliance president Shaukat Hussain said at a press conference that the provincial government kept making false promises of sending army and helicopter gunships to control the situation.

He accused the administration of giving a sectarian colour to a turf war between two groups of outlaws.

Units of the Army entered the Orakzai agency on Thursday night. The provincial authorities had also sent helicopter gunships, which pounded hideouts in the mountains.

Syed Qalb-i-Hassan, an MPA, said that hundreds of homes had been destroyed in the fighting and there was a shortage of food and medicines. He criticised the government for what he called an unusual delay in calling the Army.

The district police officer said the administration would launch an operation to help the injured and as soon as order was restored.