13 June 2004	Sunday	24 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

PESHAWAR, June 12: The political administration in the Khyber Agency on Saturday arrested seven persons of Abdulkhel sub-tribe in connection with a remote control bomb explosion targeting an army vehicle, official sources told Dawn.

They have been held under the territorial responsibility clause of Frontier Crime Regulations law, the sources added.

An army major escaped an attempt on his life when some unidentified terrorists detonated a remote control explosive device under his jeep in Ali Masjid area of Khyber Agency on Thursday noon, sources said.

Major Sohail of Khyber Riffles was coming from Landi Kotal in his official jeep to Jamrud at about 2pm. When his jeep crossed a bridge near Ali Majid the explosive device planted on the road exploded.

As a result a sepoy sitting on the rear seat received injuries. However, Major Sohail remained unhurt despite the jeep was partly damaged in the explosion, the sources maintained.

"The sepoy received minor shrapnel wounds and his condition is stable," said an official in the Khyber Agency political administration by phone.

AssistantPoliticalAgent Riaz Mehsud ruledoutthe involvement of foreign militants in the explosion.

The political administration on Friday convened a jirga of Abdulkhel sub-tribe and demanded the surrender of those involved in the blast immediately. The tribal elders denied the charges and promised to help in finding the culprits.

However, the political administration on Saturday arrested Noor Wali son of Wazir Rehman; Gul Qais son of Murghan; Janpur Khan son of Safdar; Imran Khan son of Zarbab Khan; Duran Khan son of Haji Sangeen Khan and Zar Kamal son of Sokany.