Dispute claims five lives in Batkhela

BATKHELA: Five persons were killed and one sustained injuries after an altercation over a pathway dispute in Batkhela town in Malakand district.

According to police, the dispute had been ongoing in Bahadurabad, Batkhela where two groups argued over blocking a shared pathway. Tensions flared up leading to an exchange of fire.

Three individuals from the first group - Abdul Kabir Khan, son of Taza Khan; Rasheed Khan, son of Akbar Khan; and Bilal, son of Rasheed, all residents of Batkhela - were killed.

Another member of the same group, Muhammad Rahim, son of Abdul Kabir Khan, sustained injuries. From the second group, Iftikhar, son of Noor Hussain, and Manan, son of Fazl Subhan, both residents of Batkhela, also lost their lives.

Following the incident, Subedar Major Malakand Levies, Sami Bacha, arrived at the scene with a heavy contingent to secure the area and transport the victims to the hospital for post-mortem examinations.

The Rescue 1122 personnel, Al-Khidmat Foundation volunteers, and local residents also rushed to the spot after learning about the incident.