March 16, 2008	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 7, 1429

PESHAWAR, March 15: People belonging to Mohmand and Khalil tribes opened Bara-Peshawar Road on Saturday after the release of a villager, who was kidnapped by the Bara-based militants led by Lashkar-i-Islami chief Mangal Bagh about 12 days ago.

The people closed the road on March 3 when hundreds of Mangal Bagh men attacked a four-century-old shrine at Shaikhan village. Some 12 people were killed and 15 injured besides demolition of the shrine and few houses in the attack.

The militants had also kidnapped 10 villagers. However, they released eight kidnapped villagers on March 7 and the ninth one on March 8. But Zar Kamal, the last one, was not released.

Sango union council nazim and police officials were trying to convince the villagers for opening of the road, but they refused to do so till the release of Mr Kamal.

Nasir Khan, a councilor from the area, told Dawn that the kidnapped villager was released after local elders and police officials met Mangal Bagh.

The people of the two tribes would meet on Sunday at the residence of Arbab Dost Mohammad Khan at Tehkal to review their stand on the issue, Mr Nasir said.