August 17, 2007	Friday	Sha’aban 3, 1428

LANDI KOTAL (Khyber Agency), Aug 16: Fear and insecurity has forced many owners of music shops here to close down their business after three CD shops were blown up by a little-known religious group on the night of Aug 13.

Taking responsibility for the three blasts, an elusive religious group called Amr Bil Maroof Wa Nahi Anil Munkir warned owners of music shops that a similar action would be taken against people found guilty of spreading ‘obscenity’ in Landi Kotal.

The owners of music shops have alleged that instead of providing them security, local authorities detained four of their colleagues on suspicion of involvement in the explosions. The arrested men included two Afghan brothers.

A majority of music centres in the Landi Kotal bazaar remained shut both as a protest against the administration’s failure to provide them security and also because of the threats they received.

Music shop owners and local administration officials’ versions differed about the blasts which occurred with regular intervals after 10pm on Monday.