SUKKUR: A dozen suspects were booked following a clash between two groups belonging to the Bozdar community of Ghotki district, police said on Thursday.

A young man, Hayat Bozdar, and a nine year-old girl, Shahnaz Malik, were killed during the clash.

Khanpur Mahar police booked five suspects — Ghulam Mustafa, Shah Nawaz, Sain Dad, Khando and Shah Meer — on the complaint of Hayat Bozdar’s son, Illahi Bukhsh, who stated that the armed rivals on Monday night targeted his father after accusing him of maintaining an extra-marital affair with a woman related to them.

It was reported that the victim’s side fought a gun battle in Sawanjhro village near Khanpur Mahar town with the attackers, who fled after killing the man.

Another seven suspects, including Arshad, Ajubo and Shah Nawaz, allegedly involved in the same clash, were booked on a complaint lodged by Jaro Malik, the maternal uncle of the young deceased girl.

Mr Malik stated that she received fatal bullet wounds as one of the rival groups forced her parents to leave the village and opened fire upon offering resistance.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2014