KOHAT, Dec 26: Three people were killed and six others suffered injuries when unidentified assailants riding on motorbikes opened indiscriminate fire on a passenger van near Kaghazai village on Wednesday, police said.

The van was heading towards Alizai, an area dominated by the Bangash tribe, from Kohat when it was attacked, witnesses said.

The injured were taken to the Liaquat Memorial Hospital.

Police sealed exit points leading out of the tribal areas and Hangu district but the attackers managed to escape.

Reacting to the killings, angry Bangash tribesmen took more than 40 people hostage when they were passing through the Ustarzai and Sherkot areas.

Ittehad al Bain al Muslimeen chairman Mehtabul Hassan said he had managed to get 14 captives freed after holding talks with abductors near the Ustarzai bridge. They were handed over to police.

Witnesses said that tension had been mounting in the area.

Talks were being held with elders of the Bangash tribe for the early and safe release of all hostages and measures were being taken to maintain peace in Kohat, district police officer Dr Vaqar said.