KOHAT: A violent clash between two rival groups, the Sunikhel and Zarghunkhel tribes, erupted over a coal mine dispute in the Dara Adamkhel area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kohat districts, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 15 individuals.
According to local police, the clashes broke out as a result of long-standing conflicts over territorial boundaries and control of the coal mine. The confrontation quickly escalated, leading to heavy exchanges of fire involving heavy weaponry.
The intensity of the violence left a devastating toll, with 12 casualties reported from the Sunikhel side and three from the Zarghunkhel tribe.
Law enforcement agencies swiftly responded to the situation, with police and security forces promptly arriving at the scene to quell the violence. Their intervention effectively brought an end to the firing, preventing further loss of life and restoring relative calm to the area.
Victims transported to hospitals in Kohat and Peshawar
The injured victims, along with the deceased, were immediately transported to local hospitals in Kohat and Peshawar for medical treatment and postmortem procedures, respectively.
Authorities are actively investigating the incident, and an official First Information Report (FIR) is being registered at the Dara Adamkhel police station to initiate legal proceedings.
Prior to the outbreak of violence, efforts were underway to address the longstanding dispute between the Sunikhel and Zarghunkhel tribes through the use of traditional jirgas (community councils).
These jirgas aimed to facilitate discussions and reach a consensus regarding the delimitation of the coal mine, an issue at the center of the discord.
The unfortunate incident has brought attention to the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to conflicts over land and resources in the region.
Authorities and community leaders are now striving to restore stability and prevent any further escalation of tensions between the involved parties.
