February 23, 2003	Sunday	Zul Hijjah 21, 1423

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BAJAUR, Feb 22: Ten more tribesmen have been arrested in Bajaur on the charges of shooting at levy force during an anti-poppy drive in the tribal agency.

The arrests were made after the talks between the authorities here and tribal elders on the issue of release of 40 others collapsed.

The tribesmen are under detention for firing at a levy force, wounding three of them.

The levy force had been sent to weed out poppy in Salarzai sub division of Bajaur Agency when tribal growers fired at them, officials said.

Tribal sources said a jirga headed by MNA Sahibzada Haroonur Rashid failed to convince the authorities to waive Rs1 million fine imposed on the detainees.

The administration demands that the Salarzai tribe hands over the main accused Ghazi Khan before any talks.

The tribal people say the jirga has sought three days time to arrange for Ghazi Khan’s surrender but the authorities did not agree and went for a crackdown.

The Bajaur Levy Force and Bajaur Scouts have taken up positions around the area to quell any resistance by the poppy- growing tribesmen.

An official said that action would continue against the erring tribe until the man accused was surrendered. “There is no backing down from our principled stand”, the official said.

Poppy cultivation in the tribal region bordering Afghanistan has registered an increase after it had reached zero level in the past couple of years.