Land dispute claims 8 lives in Lower Dir

15 persons sustain injuries in fight between rival groups

TIMARGARA:

At least eight people were killed and 15 others sustained severe injuries in an exchange of fire between two rival groups in Khal Darra area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Lower Dir district.

Police told The Express Tribune that there was a land dispute between Pakistan Muslim League provincial vice president who is also a former provincial minister Malik Jehanzaib and his rival group commonly known as Shirin Akbar.

According to sources familiar with the matter, a scuffle took place between them two days ago.

On Thursday night, both the groups bumped into each other at a funeral which led to a verbal dispute first and then ended up in a gunfight leaving eight people dead on both sides and many more injured.

“A son of Malik Jehanzaib, Malik Fahad Hayat is also among the dead. Other deceased persons have been identified as Shirin Akbar, Sher Gul, Suliman, Sher Hazrat, Bakhat Zameen and Hassan Shah,” said a police official, adding that all the injured persons were rushed to a nearby hospital where some of them are still in critical condition.

The official further said three passersby were also among the dead.

Firing continued between the two groups till late Thursday night and a large contingent of police was sent to the area in order to arrest the accused persons and disengage both the parties.

District Police Officer (DPO) told The Express Tribune that a first information report had been registered in Khal Police Station and so far 10 persons have been arrested in the case.

He added that police was in complete control of the situation and raids are being made to arrest all the culprits involved.

On the other hand, disinformation caused by social media posts created panic in the area as some posts showed that dozens of people have been killed, sending a shock wave across the area as people got worried about their loved ones.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18^th, 2021.