Clash over land dispute leaves eight dead in Chagai

Two of the dead were part of the Sumalani tribe while six belonged to the Norzai tribe

QUETTA: Eight people lost their lives in a firing incident over land dispute in Chagai district of Balochistan on Sunday.

“The deadly clash that took place earlier over scuffle between the Mohammad Hasni tribe and the Afghan refugee tribe Noorzai,” said Dalbandin Assistant Commissioner Habibullah Musakhail. “Mohammad Hasni tribe attacked the Noorzai tribe that led to a gunfight.”

In the clash, Noorzai tribe lost six men while Mohammad Hasni tribe two, he added.

Frontier Corps and Levies personnel reached the site and cordoned off the area. The bodies were shifted to Civil Hospital, Quetta.



According to hospital sources, the deceased were identified as Haji Abdul Baqi Mohammad Hasni, Abdul Wali, son of Haji Abdul Baqi Mohammad Hasni, Muhammad Nabi Noorzai, Haji Toor Noorzai, Abdul Bari Noorzai, Sardar Sher Agha, Mohammad Ashraf and Ubaidullah Noorzai.

Chagai Deputy Commissioner Imran Ibrahim Bangulzai said the injured were shifted to Prince Fahad Hospital in Dalbandin. The bodies were handed over to their heirs after fulfilling medico-legal formalities.

People of Hasni tribe complained against local administration about criminal negligence. They said that they had requested the authorities to take steps and measures to avoid such a chaotic situation in the future.

Deadly firing incidents has created fear among the people dwelling in Barabcha.



Authorities are investigating the case but no one has been arrested so far.

In June last year, four members of a family, including three brothers, were killed in a firing incident over a land dispute in Kohistan.

Police sources said the incident happened in Kohi Palas area where a person from Azadkhel tribe allegedly opened fire on people from the rival Cholaskhel tribe, killing four people.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th, 2018.