Forest ownership dispute

One killed, another injured in Chitral

CHITRAL: A man was killed and another sustained injuries as residents of two villages clashed over the ownership of a forest in the Bamburet valley here Monday.A dispute has been running between the residents of Pehlowananda and Batrik villages over the ownership of Acholaga forest in Bamburet, Chitral since long.

The district administration had barred both the parties from carrying out any kind of activity in the disputed area. Sources said the residents of Batrik village had occupied the disputed forest area for two years and had constructed cattle pens there.

Reports said the clash occurred when the Batrik villageers allegedly attacked the inhabitants of Pehlowananda village with heavy weaponry when they were busy working in their part of the forest.

As a result, the sources said a person identified as Mujahideen was killed and one Najmuddin sustained injuries in the attack. The police lodged a case against Abdur Rehman, Bahadur Khan, Rozi Khan, Habib Khan and Ghulam Sarwar, but no arrest could be made.