August 29, 2007	Wednesday	Sha’aban 15, 1428

LANDI KOTAL (Khyber Agency), Aug 28: Armed supporters of a religious outfit took into custody two suspected outlaws in Bara on Monday night.

Mangal Bagh, the self-proclaimed head of the Lashkar-i-Islam, announced on his illegal FM radio station that Lashkar activists had “captured” two “outlaws” during a raid on a house in Bara. He said they had received information from Peshawar about the presence of the two men in Bara.

Officials in Bara confirmed the ‘arrest’ of the two men, Niaz and Hayatkhel, wanted in a number of criminal cases, by the Lashkar activists. They said Niaz was a brother of Sial Khan, a leader of a notorious group of kidnappers active in Bara since long.

Sial Khan was arrested by the Lashkar-i-Islam a few months ago but was later released after giving assurances about his future conduct. Sources in Bara said although Sial was keeping a low profile, his group members were still involved in wrongdoing.

It was also learnt that Niaz was involved in the kidnapping of a Peshawar journalist, Sohail Qalandar, and the recent kidnapping of Dr Saeed, son of an industrialist of Peshawar.

Talking to journalists in Spin Qabar on Tuesday, Mangal Bagh said a collective fine of Rs2 million would be imposed on the two ‘outlaws’ and their houses would be demolished.

He said they would be released after they deposited the amount and furnished guarantees for their good conduct in future.