Armed clash between two clans claims 8 lives in Sindh's Dadu

In the early hours of Sunday, an armed clash erupted between two factions of the Chandio clan in Dadu district, resulting in eight fatalities and two injuries, according to a police report. The dispute stemmed from a long-standing feud and disagreements over the use of a common passage and other land-related issues, police stated.

The clash occurred within the jurisdiction of the Jhallo police station, with Hyderabad Range Deputy Inspector General Tariq Dharejo confirming the incident. Among the deceased were two members of Sikandar Chandio's group and six from Ali Akber Chandio's side. The deceased from Sikandar Chandio's faction were identified as Usman Chandio's son, Deedar Ali, and his brother, Gul Bahar.

From Ali Akbar Chandio's side, the deceased included Gahi Khan's son, Fida Hussain; Zulfiqar alias Watani, son of Mohammad Waris Chandio; Mohammad Bachal, son of Mohammad Bux Chandio; Akbar Chandio's sons Sultan and Manzoor; and Arshad alias Hajjan, son of Usman Chandio. The deceased and injured were transported to the Dadu District Headquarters Hospital.

Dharejo revealed that the two groups had engaged in gunfire multiple times over the past three years, leading to two deaths each and nine injuries, all of which remain under investigation. Police reports indicate that Gul Bahar was implicated in eight cases, while Fida Hussain, Zulfiqar, Bachal, Manzoor, and Arshad alias Hajjan were linked to one case each.

Ghulam Qadir, another injured individual, had two cases pending. SSP Mir Saddam reported that Ali Akbar Chandio's men launched an attack on Sikandar Chandio's group, triggering the intense confrontation. Some arrests and weapon seizures were made by the police. The bodies of the deceased from both sides were not yet buried by Sunday evening.

The SSP noted that Ali Akbar Chandio aimed to seek vengeance for the killing of his school-going nephew, as his brother did not support a reconciliation proposal involving Khan Mohammad Chandio. The riverine area where the incident took place was declared a restricted zone, with police stationed to prevent further escalation.