DERA ISMAIL KHAN: At least six people were killed and several others injured when two rival groups exchanged gunfire after a volleyball match in Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police said.
The shooting occurred in Malana village near a girls’ school as a special guest at the volleyball match and his companions were returning from the event, according to local police reports.
District Police Officer (DPO) Ziauddin Ahmed said the two groups came face to face after the match, triggering an exchange of gunfire. He attributed the incident to a longstanding personal and political feud.
Police identified five of the deceased as Qudratullah, Umar Farooq, Muhammad Shafiq, Muhammad Ajmal and Muhammad Arsalan. The identity of the sixth victim was not immediately available.
The victims reportedly belonged to the Baloch community, while initial reports linked the deceased to the group led by Haibat Khan.
Several people were also wounded in the shooting. Police said the injured were shifted to the District Headquarters Teaching Hospital for medical treatment. Three of the injured were identified as Fazal, Qaiser and Saadullah.
Meanwhile, University Police Station officials have launched an investigation into the incident, and further action is underway.
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The latest shooting adds to security concerns in Dera Ismail Khan, where another explosion occurred in late July at the police lines’ ammunition store. The blast injured bomb disposal squad chief Inayatullah and caused part of the store’s wall and roof to collapse.
Police said the explosion was caused by explosive material stored inside the facility.
