LANDI KOTAL: At least four people were killed and nine others sustained serious injuries after two rival groups allegedly exchanged heavy gunfire over a land dispute in the Neki Khel area of Landi Kotal tehsil in Khyber district on Saturday.

According to police and hospital officials, the incident occurred at around 1:00 pm when a longstanding land dispute between the Abid Group and the Bijli Khan Group turned violent, leading to an intense exchange of fire.

Among the deceased from the Abid Group were Saifat Ullah, 20, son of Amir Rehman, and Rajeed Ullah, 35, son of Sher Rehman. Three others from the group—Ghulam Farooq, 60, son of Yaghistan; Rafi Ullah, 45, son of Bakhmal Khan; and Saeed Khan, 45, son of Mithal Khan—were seriously injured.

From the Bijli Khan Group, Qadeer, around 35, son of Raees, and Ansar, around 22, son of Muhammad Nawaz, were killed. The injured included Rahif Khan, son of Bijli Khan; Naeem, son of Najeeb Ullah; Farhad, son of Rahim; Basheer, son of Rauf; Ibrahim, son of Raees; and Tariq, son of Bijli Khan.

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Police rushed to the scene soon after receiving information about the incident and shifted the injured to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Landi Kotal, where they were provided emergency medical treatment.

Hospital sources said several of the injured were later referred to hospitals in Peshawar due to the critical nature of their wounds.

Speaking to this correspondent, Landi Kotal SHO Ishrat Shinwari said investigations were underway. He added that preliminary findings suggest the clash was triggered by a land dispute between the two groups.

Following the incident, police tightened security in the area and deployed additional personnel to prevent any further escalation. Authorities said legal action would be taken against those found involved in the deadly clash.