Daily Times

SHIKARPUR: More than 200 persons have been killed and dozens including women, children and pedestrians suffered serious bullet injuries, while several others have lost their body parts in deadly clashes during communal clashes in recent incidents in Shikarpur district.

All the clashing communities are living under weapon’s cover while blood shedding continues to disrupt the education process as well. Fear and insecurity grip people in general including teachers and students in fast deteriorating socio-economic condition. SSP Umar Tufail told Daily Times that despite tribal clashes, Shikarpur police have been controlling over the law and order situation, while arrangements have been finalised to take action against those, who are involved in disputes.

In Garhi Yasin taluka, the deadly dispute between Kharoos and Odha, in which 14 have been killed and 15 suffered injuries, Sadhayo dispute with Dahani, in which 31 including three passers-by have been killed and 15 were injured from both of the rival groups, Marfanis rivalry with Khosa tribe of Jacobabad district, which recorded four dead and five injured.

Similarly, Lolai and Dahani clash claimed three lives injuries to two, Umrani dispute with Kanbhar, which killed six. Further, one killed in Panhwar and Brohi dispute, Jatoi tribesmen are fighting with each other, in which six people have been killed so far. Juneja are fighting with each other claiming 14 lives, dispute between Manghneja and Kalhora claimed 13 innocent lives.

In some incidents, clash between Panhwar and Brohi of Palija village took three lives, while a deadly dispute among Brohi ,Marfani, Tunia, Kakepota, Qambrani and Sundrani clan, which is going on since long, during which, nine Brohis, eight Kakepotas, seven Marfanis, 11 Tunias, eight Sundranis and one Qambranis have lost their lives.

In Khanpur, Taluka of district Shikarpur, clash between Kehar and Shar, claimed 26 lives, Jagirani dispute with Burira, three persons were killed. Bijarani dispute with Teghani took the lives of 10 persons. The motive behind the tribal clashes is ownership of Agricultural land, honor killing (Karo-Kari), theft and petty issues due to which tribal clashes start.

Inter-tribe clashes have resulted in closure of schools as fear and insecurity haunts teachers and students. Similarly, women and children of disputed communities’ from conflict areas cannot move easily to Rural Health Units for getting Health facilities as well. In many conflict-hit areas, people have been displaced, as they had to leave their native homes and migrate to safer places.

The tribal feuds have also impacted the culture of the district badly, while Kalashnikov culture rules over peace and harmony as well as with the easy access to purchase of weapons tribal clashes have increased considerably. Further, tribal feuds have destroyed the economy of people, as personal properties, livestock theft and killing incidents are on the rise.

The situation has compelled people to migrate to other places. Former SSP Nasir Aftab Khattak had warned the tribal elders to settle their deadly disputes otherwise stern action would be taken against them. Earlier, some disputes have been settled down due to police interference.