Man killed, 2 injured in Lyari clash

KARACHI: A man was killed and two others injured on Monday in a dispute between two rival communities in Lyari.

According to police, members of the Hangoro community opened fire on a family belonging to their rival community, Sanghar, injuring three people, Saleh Muhammad, Usman and Ishaq.

A contingent of police was sent to the area to bring the situation under control. They took the injured persons to Civil Hospital Karachi for treatment, where Ishaq was pronounced dead by the doctors.

Police officials said that the two communities, both affiliated with the Kachhi Rabita Committee, started fighting two years ago. A man, Zulfiqar, was killed in that clash. Zulfiqar was Ishaq’s nephew. Two people, Zahid and Ramazan, were arrested for Zulfiqar’s murder. However, these two suspects were released on bail a week ago.

SP Khadim Hussain Rind said that the suspects went to Zulfiqar’s family after they were freed and demanded that they withdraw the murder case. The family refused, saying that they will pursue the case to the end. This infuriated the two men, who allegedly attacked the family.

After the incident, rioters set two trucks, two motorcycles and a bus on fire at Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai Road in the jurisdiction of Kalri police station. The rioters also set an under-construction building and a cafe on fire.

Kalri remained quiet and tense on Monday with most shops remaining closed.

Meanwhile, Ishaq’s family protested against the killing on Mauripur Road on Monday. They staged a sit-on at the road with Ishaq’s body, demanding immediate arrests of the perpetrators. The protesters dispersed after police officials assured them of an immediate inquiry into the case.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 31^st, 2010.