Diamer-Bhasha land dispute claims four lives, several injured

PT Report

Diamer, February 27: The armed clash between members of the tribes of Thor Valley and Harban Valley resulted in the death of at least four people. Around a dozen people have been injured due to exchange of fire in a pasture located at the border of the Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltsitan and Kohistan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The clash started yesterday after some people from the Harban valley allegedly tried to forcefully evict residents of Thor Valley from the Gondulu pasture. Armed groups from both tribes had reached the disputed area and exchanged fire throughout yesterday night and today also, leading to the death of four people from Harban. At least seven people were injured according to some sources, other put the number of injured people at around a dozen.

The police and administration officials had failed to pacify the tribes yesterday.

The bloody clash between the two tribes has emerged as a question mark on the performance of the law enforcement agencies, the district administration and the religious and political leadership.

The dispute had been simmering for the last several weeks but no tangible and effective measures were taken by the government and administration to find a peaceful solution.

The situation remained volatile despite of efforts by political and religious leaders.