Exchange of fire: Four killed, two others injured in tribal clashes

SUKKUR:

Four men were killed while two others were injured when armed men attacked Shamd Din Ulro and Mohammad Hayat Ulro villages situated in the riverine area of Khairpur district on Saturday.

The armed men opened fire in the direction of the two villages, whose residents retaliated, reported the Faiz Mohammad Bhindo police. The assailants are said to be Odho tribesmen. As a result of a fierce exchange of fire, four villagers were killed while two others were injured. The perpetrators fled the scene immediately afterwards.

Since the Odho and Ulri villages are located at a close distance, firing from both the sides continued until Saturday evening. A heavy contingent of the police rushed to the scene when informed and shifted the bodies and the injured to a nearby hospital.

The deceased were identified as Hakim Ali Ulro, Hazoor Bux Ulro, Juman Ulro and Abdul Qadeer Ulro. The identities of the injured could not be ascertained. The Ulro and Odho tribesmen have been fighting over a piece of land in the katcha (riverine) area for the last seven to eight years. To date, clashes between the two tribes have claimed 23 lives and left more than three dozen persons injured, including women and children.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th, 2014.