PESHAWAR: At least 13 tribesmen were killed and seven others were injured in clashes over a dispute which has been raging for at least four weeks in the upper Kurram Agency on Thursday, tribal sources said.
An official told The Express Tribune that the clashes occurred in the Shalozan area of the upper Kurram Agency between the Mengal and Turi-Bangash tribesmen over a water dispute. Six of the deceased belonged to the Turi tribe and seven were Mengals.
Local people said that the dispute was basically part of a broader sectarian discord in the tribal agency. Sources said that the Turi-Bangash tribesmen are Shia, while the Mengals are Sunni.
Over 50 tribesmen have so far been killed and more than 70 others have been injured in the continuing clashes.
Local sources said that the warring tribes are staking claims over Jawar Tangi stream.
They said both parties were using heavy weapons against each other and so far the local tribal administration has failed to control the situation.
Political authorities said that paramilitary forces have also been unable to control the clashes.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 17th, 2010.
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