Five people were killed and one other injured in armed attacks between Solangi and Narejo clansmen near Khairpur on Tuesday.
According to the police and villagers, a dozen of armed motorcyclists, allegedly from Narejo clan, opened fire at persons standing at a chowk in Gaagri village, located within Wada Machhiyon police jurisdiction. As a result, Siraj Ahmed Solangi, a school security guard, was killed on the spot while two others, 16-year-old Atiq-ur-Rehman Solangi and Manzoor Ahmed Solangi, were severely injured.
The injured were rushed to the Civil Hospital Khairpur, where Rehman succumbed to the bullet injuries.
In retaliation, Solangi clansmen blocked Khairpur-Pir Jo Goth road near Piryaloi, stopped coming and going vehicles and checked the identification cards of commuters. They allegedly opened fire on Narejo clansmen, killing three of them including Ejaz Narejo, Javed Narejo, and Muhammad Usman Narejo.
Police said the violence appears to be linked to a recent police encounter in which notorious criminal Sain Bux Narejo was killed. The Narejo clan reportedly suspected the Solangi clan of tipping off authorities, leading to the death of Sain Bux.
Clashes between the two groups continued late into the night, with no immediate police response, witnesses said.