Battle continues: Woman killed in clash over control of land

Firing between the two communities started around 1 pm and continued till the evening.

HYDERABAD: A woman was killed and three people were injured during a clash on Thursday between two communities over the control of mountainous land used for collecting stones for construction.

The incident took place around 25 kilometres off Sehwan near Lakhi Shah Saddar area along the Indus Highway. The police feared that more casualties could take place as the firing between the two sides, which started around 1 pm, continued through the evening.

According to Khebat SHO Ali Akbar Soomro, the disputed land was in use of the Kaloi community but an influential person from the Syed community from Lakhi Shah Saddar claimed its legal ownership. He said that Syed Sajjad Shah reportedly brought the lease document, showing that he has been leased around 300 acres. Soomro added that the Kaloi community resisted and an exchange of fire started between the two sides.

A woman, 32-year-old Haseena Kaloi, sustained multiple gunshots and succumbed to her injuries over two hours later as the continuous firing prevented the police from getting her medical help. The injured include Ataullah Kaloi, Dilawar Kaloi and Batool Kaloi.

Sehwan ASP Tariq Vilayat said that reinforcement has been called to control firing, adding that no suspect had been arrested as yet. The Indus Highway remained blocked since the clash started. According to sources in the police, armed supporters of Kaloi and Syed communities were also gathering in the area but so far, the police were able to prevent them from joining the fight.

This is the second such incident in Jamshoro in less than a month. In November, two groups of Khoso community fought over occupation of a coal mine.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20^th, 2013.