HYDERABAD (Web Desk) — At least eight people were killed and two others wounded after a years-long blood feud between two groups of the Chandio clan erupted into a fierce gun battle in Dadu district early Sunday, police said.
The deadly clash occurred within the limits of Jhallo police station and involved groups associated with Sikandar Chandio and Ali Akbar Chandio. Police said six of those killed belonged to Ali Akbar Chandio’s side, while two were from the rival group.
According to police, the violence stemmed from a longstanding feud involving land-related disagreements, the use of a shared passage and previous killings between the two sides.
Hyderabad Range Deputy Inspector General Tariq Dharejo said attempts had been made to reconcile the rival groups, but those efforts had failed. He said the groups had exchanged gunfire several times during the past three years, leaving people dead and injured even before Sunday’s bloodshed.
Those killed from Sikandar Chandio’s group were identified as brothers Deedar Ali and Gul Bahar, sons of Usman Chandio. Mumtaz, another son of Usman, and Ghulam Qadir, son of Kehar Khan Chandio, were wounded.
The six people killed from the rival side were identified as Fida Hussain, Zulfiqar alias Watani, Mohammad Bachal, Sultan, Manzoor and Arshad alias Hajjan.
The bodies and injured were taken to Dadu District Headquarters Hospital.
Dadu Senior Superintendent of Police Mir Saddam said the violence broke out after men associated with Ali Akbar Chandio allegedly attacked the rival side, triggering an intense exchange of gunfire.
Police subsequently moved into the area, made arrests and recovered weapons, the SSP said. Security personnel were deployed to prevent retaliatory violence and stop the feud from escalating further.
According to the SSP, revenge over the killing of Ali Akbar Chandio’s school-going nephew was also a factor behind the latest confrontation, as previous attempts at reconciliation had failed.
Police records cited by DIG Dharejo showed that several of those killed or injured had previously been named in criminal cases. He said cases stemming from earlier clashes between the rival groups were also pending before courts.
The DIG said previous exchanges of fire between the two sides had already claimed four lives — two from each group — and left nine people injured.
The latest deaths have sharply raised the toll from the feud and renewed concerns over armed clan disputes in Dadu’s riverine areas, where longstanding personal, land and revenge conflicts can lead to repeated cycles of violence.
Police said they were maintaining a presence in the affected area to prevent further bloodshed and bring the situation under control.
