MANSEHRA, Aug 8: Traffic was suspended on the Karakoram Highway (KKH) on Sunday by angry protesters who blocked it after the killing of a man in a land dispute in Chatter plain bazaar, Konsh valley, about 50 kilometres from here.

Police sources said there is a long-standing land dispute between the local landlords of the Syed tribe and tenants belonging to the Gujjar tribe. Both tribes have a number of criminal and civil cases pending in the courts.

The man killed in the firing, Syed Zubair Shah, resident of Bai Bala, was from the Syed tribe. A murder case was registered against five people, Sardar Malik Jan and Abdullah Jan both sons of Sher Zaman, and Mian Jan, Zarin Jan and Ali Jan, all three sons of Sardar Malik Jan.

An official on duty in Battal police station said that DSP Mumtaz Zarin reached Chattar plain with police contingents and negotiated with the elders of the area to unblock the highway.

Police said they arrested three persons in the murder case, and gave their names as Asif, son of Sardar Malik Jan, Said Ghulam and Mohammad Shahzad.