SULAIMANI (ESTA) — A man was killed after clashes erupted between villagers and a group of people in the Kurdistan Region’s district of Choman over pasture dispute, a local official said on Monday.
Mayor of Choman district Swara Akram said the clashes broke out after a group of Barakayee people entered pastures of villagers in Balakayati area in the district, 150 kilometers northeast of Erbil.
“Villagers believe the other side have passed their boundary,” Akram told Esta Media Network.
One person was killed and another was wounded in the fighting, he said.
He further said police, security forces and Peshmerga went to the area to mediate between the two sides to avoid more clashes.
The issue of land dispute has been ongoing between four villages in Balakayati and Barakayee people for over two years. The issue reoccurred in April.
The villagers want the Barakayee people to leave their areas in Balakayati, who also believe they belong to the area.
Land dispute is a common issue in the Kurdistan Region. Dozens of people have been killed or wounded in the past years due to the issue.
*This story was updated at 05:00 p.m. EBL time
