Light years behind: Three brothers dead in Balochistan tribal clash

Four are killed in Qila Abdullah over ‘exchange of harsh words’.

QUETTA: At least four people, including three of a family, were killed on Friday in an armed clash between two rival tribes from a Pashtun-dominated area of violence-hit Balochistan.

Four others were reported injured in the clash that happened in Mezahi Adda area of the province’s Qila Abdullah district.

“The clash erupted over a petty issue between men from the Misayzai and Imranzai tribes and took a bloody turn,” an official of the Balochistan Levies told The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity.

The tribesmen first exchanged harsh words, following which one of the men opened indiscriminate fire at people from the Misayzai tribe. Three men, all brothers, were killed. In retaliatory fire, another man was killed and four were injured.

While some tribesmen took the bodies and injured to Quetta, others took positions and exchange of fire lasted for over two hours.

“They were armed with sophisticated weapons and the continuous firing sparked panic across the area that comprises several small villages,” witness Kaleemullah said.

According to other witnesses, law enforcing agencies were not able to control the situation and Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, tribal elders and political leaders had to be called in by local officials who tackled the situation. “It was a tribal clash and the situation is now under control. FC personnel have been deputed in the area,” Qila Abdullah Deputy Commissioner Abdul Fateh Bhangar said.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd, 2011.