KHAIRPUR, Sept 12: Policemen and Ulra tribesmen clashed during a search operation resulting in injuries to four officials. Police arrested 13 people, while its mobile van came under attack and was damaged.

Police carried out search operation in the villages of Odho and Ulra communities on Friday. Later eight persons of Ulra community were released.

According to police Ulra and Odho communities were involved in a feud which had claimed five lives and the search operation was aimed at putting pressure on both communities to remain calm and avoid fanning further violence.

A heavy police contingent comprising 10 mobile vans and one APC, led by SPO Katcha Keti, Ghulam Nabi Almani, carried out a search operation in the village Sadiq Ulro, Suleman Ulro, Pakka Ulro and Meeral Odho, Qaim Odho and other villages of both communities in taluka Kingri.Police arrested 13 persons from both communities and also reportedly recovered some weapon.

Police arrested eight people in village Suleman Ulro police which turned into a clash with the Ulra community people. Villagers and children hurled stones and bricks as a result windscreen of the mobile of Piryaloi police station was damaged whereas four policemen including ASI Eiden Khan, PC Aziz, mobile driver Habibullah and a PC received minor injuries.

The villagers got freed eight arrested villagers from police custody. Police resorted to aerial firing as a result of which one Inam son of Khan Mohammad Ulro was injured.

The Ulro community people alleged that Inam was injured in police firing, while police rejected this allegation.

No official was available for comments on the issue.