MINGORA, Aug 29: Two persons were killed and 33 injured in exchange of fire during a jirga, called to settle a land dispute between two local tribes in Kalam valley of Swat district on Wednesday.

According to police, Mullakhel and Nelorkhel tribes had dispute over the ownership of Shahi Ground for the last 20 years. The elders of both the tribes called a jirga to resolve the dispute amicably but participants after exchange of hot words pelted stones and opened firing on each other during the meeting.

Police said that two persons identified as Mohammad Babar and Fazl Rabbi from Mullakhel tribe were killed while more than 33 members of both the tribes sustained injuries in exchange of fire. The injured were taken to civil hospital in Kalam where condition of one of them was stated to be critical.

Police and security forces reached the area soon after the incident and controlled the situation. A search operation was also launched in the area to arrest the accused persons. However, most of the accused managed to escape.

DSP Naveed Iqbal said that situation was under control and cross FIRs were lodged against both the tribes. He said that raids were being conducted for the arrest of those people, who were responsible for the incident.

PROTEST: Local hawkers staged a protest demonstration in Swat against the killing of their colleague, Abdul Haleem, in Gilgit-Baltistan and demanded arrest of his killers.

Abdul Haleem, a resident of Swat, was working as a hawker in Gilgit where he met the fatal incident. The protest was held on the call of Swat Union of Hawkers. The union president, Fida Mohammad Khan, and other office-bearers demanded arrest of killers and compensation to the family members of the deceased.