SHIKARPUR - At least nine people were killed and scores other injured in an armed clash between two rival groups at village Sajjidabad in Jacobabad on Sunday.
Police said that armed men of Rind and Soomro tribes which were in old rivalry over ownership of agricultural land traded fire in Goth Liaquat Rind of Garhi Khairu district Jacobabad. The clash which continued for about four hours claimed nine lives besides leaving several others injured.
According to source, 100 armed men of both rival groups took part in the clash. Soomro community’s six person who succumbed to the clash were identified as Ghulam Ali, Murad, Muhammad Khan, Gul Khan, Manzoor Ali and Ameer Bakhsh while three persons identified as Mashooq Dahani, Khalid and Abdul Hameed Dahani belonged to Rind community.
Heavy contingent of police reached the scene and brought the situation under control. The bodies and injured were shifted to hospital where condition of several wounded people was serious and it was feared that death toll could rise further. The police after registering cases against armed men of both groups at respective police station started raids for their arrest.
According to reliable sources, SSP Jacobabad Sajjad Khokhar has arrested 15 accused of Rind tribe and recovered automatic weapons from their possession. The deadly dispute started over three years back over 1000 acres of government land.
WAHEED PHULPOTO