MARDAN: Three persons were shot dead and as many injured in an exchange of fire between rival groups here on Tuesday.

The preliminary investigation conducted by relevant officials of Hoti police station revealed that Hazrat Ali was killed and a minor, Jaber was injured from one group, while Anwar Ali and Qaiser Ali got killed and Yousaf Ali and Bihar Ali injured from the other group.

Police said both the groups were closed relatives and they had a dispute over ownership of a house which led to the fatal incident.

Relatives of the rival groups registered separate FIRs with Hoti police station. In the first FIR, Noor-ul-Basar along with his sons, Bahadar Sher, Mohammad Sher, Khalid and Murad, was nominated as accused, while the second FIR was lodged against Nazeer Gul and his sons identified as Zamir Gul and Hasan Maab.

Later, police claimed they had arrested one of the accused identified as Bahadar Sher while raids were being conducted on suspected hideouts of the alleged killers to arrest them.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2019