4 killed, 9 injured in Mugheri-Chandio fight

SUKKUR: Four people were shot dead and nine others were injured when a fight broke out between the Chandio and Mugheri tribes in Lalu Raing, Wara, Qambar Shahdadkot on Wednesday. Shopekeepers were forced to close their businesses while residents had to take refuge within their homes as firing between the two groups continued for hours.

Landlords Muhammad Ibrahim Chandio, 30 and Haji Rab Rakheo Chandio, 35, were passing through the village on a motorcycle when they accidentally collided with Aslam Mugheri and Gulbahar Mugheri at a crossing. Aslam and Gulbahar opened fire at the landlords, killing Muhammad Ibrahim and Haji Rab Rakheo on the spot.

When the Chandios were informed of the incident, they reached the spot and shot dead Aslam and Gulbahar, thus instigating the Mugheris to retaliate. The two communities attacked each other with guns, pistols and Kalashnikovs, injuring Abdul Sattar Chandio, Sultan Chandio, Rafeeq Chandio, Saleem Chandio, Muhib Mugheri, Shaukat Mugheri, Dhani Buksh Mugheri, Nabi Buksh Mugheri and Hubdaar Mugheri. The injured men were taken to a Larkana hospital where Abdul Sattar, Muhib and Hubdaar were said to be in critical condition.

Meanwhile, as the firing continued, the police officials deployed at the Wagan check post fled the area, allowing the communities to rope-off the scene and continue their feud. All activities in the area came to a standstill as the firing continued for several hours. After this the Wagan police arrested more than 30 people belonging to the two communities from a number of villages around the area. They later took the four bodies to the hospital for post-mortems, after which they were handed over to the families.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 8^th, 2010.