LANDI KOTAL: Rival groups brace for showdown in Bara: Armed men take positions
By Ibrahim Shinwari
LANDI KOTAL (Khyber Agency), May 17: Militant groups Lashkar-i-Islam and Ansaarul Islam are bracing for a showdown and they have fortified their positions in Sedak area of the Bara tehsil.
Sources said the self-proclaimed leader of the Lashkar-i-Islam, Mangal Bagh, had also moved out of Spin Qabar along with his armed supporters and reportedly established his new base in Sedak.
It is also learnt that a good number of armed Ansaar supporters have occupied high positions in the same area.
A spokesman for the Ansaar-ul-Islam, Izzatullah Hum Khyal, said that more than forty families had announced support to his group in a public gathering in Sipah area.
Sipah is considered as a stronghold of Lashkar-i-Islam.
Meanwhile, it was also learnt that the Zakhakhel tribe has announced raising an armed band of 200 men to support Lashkar against its opponents in Tirah. Both groups are busy mustering support of different tribes and sub-tribes in Bara tehsil.
LAND DISPUTE: Residents of the Peero Khel and Loe Shalman in Landi Kotal have taken up positions against each other over a land dispute.
Both the tribes claimed the ownership rights of Enzari Kandao.
A local jirga has earlier stopped both tribes from cutting down trees from the Enzari hill tops.
But Shalman elders accused their rivals of violating the jirga decision.
Sources said that armed supporters of the two tribes had established bunkers in their respective areas.
Local authorities are holding talks with elders of both sides to avert an armed clash.
