March 10, 2003	Monday	Muharram 6, 1424

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KOHAT, March  9:  The authorities have busted a gang of women traffickers, arresting three people, after raiding a den in Darra Adamkhel, in the Frontier region of Kohat, officials reported on Sunday.

The den was raided by a party headed by the assistant political agent, Safeerullah Khan after he had received several reports that the premises were being used to hide kidnapped girls. They arrested Gul Husain, the owner of the hotel Merikhel, Azmat Torkhel the son of Karim and an Afghan refugee, Saidgay.

The accused were sent to prison under the 40 Frontier Crimes Regulations.

Mr Safeerullah told Dawn that the accused were also involved in the smuggling of drugs, selling of stolen vehicles and kidnapping for ransom.

The law-enforcement agencies had recovered 16 girls from the basement of the building during the last two operations in Darra Adamkhel. The girls had revealed their ordeal that they had not seen the sky for the last one year.

They had reported to the CIA that the hotel management used to offer them (the girls) to the truck drivers. At times they would sell them to the influential people.

Although the army had demolished the den a few years ago, the  den-owner had his building reconstructed and restarted the illegal  trade, in violation of the ban imposed by the authorities.