December 10, 2007	Monday	Ziqa'ad 29, 1428

KOHAT, Dec 9: Three traders have been kidnapped from the Marai town, on the Orakzai Agency-Kohat road, as abduction of people from rival sects continues in the settled areas, according to reliable sources.

The traders were transporting chickens from Kohat to the remote area of Teerah when their pick-up was intercepted in Marai which borders the Orakzai Agency.

Police registered a case on Saturday night after a man reported that his brother had been missing along with two friends.

The kidnappers had abandoned the vehicle, which was impounded by the Ustarzai police. The victims were identified as Sana Khel, Hassan Gul and Mohibullah, who belonged to the Storikhel tribe of

Orakzai Agency.

The kidnappings of rival sects’ members have been continuing in the region since Nov 19 when the local Taliban started arresting passengers in Darra Adamkhel to swap them with tribesmen taken hostage by a rival group in Kurram Agency.

Armed men belonging to a particular sect had killed a man and abducted several passengers travelling in a vehicle a few days ago.

The incident was followed by a similar act in Kohat but the hostage was got released on Thursday by elders of the Ustarzai tribe in Sherkot.

The Kohat-Hangu road is still considered dangerous for people from both the main sects. Transporters from one sect are using the Hangu-Lachi town route and those from the rival group prefer the Kohat city-Hangu road.