By Sudhir Ahmad Afridi
KHYBER: At least four people were killed and nine others injured after rival groups exchanged gunfire during a land dispute in the Neki Khel Kas area of Landi Kotal, Khyber district, police and hospital officials said.
According to officials, the clash broke out between the Abid group and the Bajli Khan group over ownership of land, triggering an intense exchange of fire.
Two members of the Abid group, Saifatullah and Rajidullah, were killed in the shooting. Three others — Ghulam Farooq, Rafeeullah and Saeed Khan — sustained serious injuries.
From the rival group, Qadeer and Ansar were killed, while Rahif Khan, Naeem, Farhad, Bashir, Ibrahim and Tariq suffered serious injuries.
Hospital officials said all the wounded were initially taken to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Landi Kotal. After receiving emergency treatment, they were referred to hospitals in Peshawar because of the severity of their injuries.
Police have deployed additional personnel to the area to prevent further violence. Landi Kotal police said an investigation was underway to determine the circumstances of the incident and identify those responsible.
