LANDI KOTAL, Feb 23: Three people were killed and seven injured after clashes between two groups in Bara on Thursday, officials said. However, according to AP five people were killed while a private TV channel put the death toll at seven.

Clashes erupted in the area after armed supporters of Tanzim Ittehad Ulema Bara, known as ‘peace committee’, and local cleric Mufti Munir Shakir came face to face at Qambarabad market.

Witnesses said heavy gunfire was exchanged for more than three hours.

Residents said the agency’s political administration had yet to take action to quell tension.

Mufti Shakir, an Afghan, had reportedly asked his followers through an FM radio station to arm themselves and attack opponents.

Sources said local peace committee commander Naseeb Khan of Shaloober tribe was patrolling the market with armed activists when he came across his rivals.

Commander Naseeb’s men opened fire, injuring an aide of Mufti Shakir, Yarmat Khan.

Heavy gunfire began soon afterwards between the two groups which continued for more than three hours, forcing shopkeepers to close their outlets.

Witnesses said Commander Naseeb, his supporter Lal Hassan and an unknown automobile technician died in the firing.

Naseeb Khan was declared absconder after escaping from a prison in Bara last year.

Three other activists of the committee — Naseeb’s son, nephew and one Dawa Khan — were wounded.

Mufti Shakir’s supporters Mallok Khan and Syed Noor were injured.

The mufti’s followers besieged a mosque in Qambarabad and fired rockets on Madressah Hashmia on Jamrud road, but no casualty was reported.

Sources said the mufti’s supporters allegedly kidnapped local peace committee member Maulana Maroof Khan, following which the committee’s activists made three people of his group hostage.

Khyber Agency MNA Pir Noorul Haq Qadri held the agency administration and the NWFP governor’s Fata Secretariat responsible for the situation.

“I brought the situation to the notice of the political administration and the Governor’s Secretariat but they did not take pre-emptive measures,” Mr Qadri said.

Sources said a jirga of the Afridi tribe had asked the political administration to expel the mufti from the agency.

Mufti Shakir and his rival Pir Saifur Rehman had shot to prominence by indulging in mutual tirade through illegal FM stations.

Under pressure by the administration, Saifur Rehman left Bara last month but Mufti Shakir has refused to leave the region.