July 10, 2008	Thursday	Rajab 6, 1429

KOHAT, July 9: A 400-strong force of Taliban militants laid siege to a police station in Hangu on Wednesday after the arrest of seven of their associates by security agencies.

According to officials, 35 policemen were present in the Doaba station when militants encircled it.

Heavily-armed Taliban militants were seen patrolling the Doaba bazaar and taking positions to counter any operation by security forces.

A military spokesman said that an army battalion had been sent from the Thall garrison to Doaba on the request of the provincial government.

Late into the night, three policemen tried to escape, but the militants kidnapped them.

Militants also curt power supply to the police station by blowing up a transformer.

The militants have also kidnapped a PTCL official, Qamar ur Zaman of Thal tehsil, and eight low-ranking officials of the Kurram militia.

Officials confirmed the siege of the police station and said the SHO had contacted high-ups over wireless and requested them to move the Frontier Corps or the army to the police station for evacuation of the besieged policemen.

A high-level meeting in Kohat discussed the situation and sources said that a federal government directive was awaited. The meeting, presided over by the regional coordination officer, was attended by Kohat DIG and military officials.

Police started vacating all small checkpoints because of fear of attacks by Taliban militants on the Thall-Parachinar road, including Tor Pul and Kurram checkpoint.

Earlier, security forces captured seven Taliban militants from Doaba and Kahi areas of Hangu district, police sources said.

All detained militants belong to South Waziristan tribal region and one to Paktia province of Afghanistan. Those arrested in Doaba were identified as Moihammad Anwar, Mansoor, Naseer and Amanullah from South Waziristan and Rehmatullah from Hangu district.

The militants arrested during a flag march by security agencies are: Naveed, Rafiudding (South Waziristan Agency) and Wazir Khan (Paktia province of Afghanistan).

The Kohat-Hangu Road was closed to traffic following the recovery of the body of driver, Awalmir Ali, a resident of Orakzai agency.

Ali was kidnapped by Taliban militants in Darra Adam Khel, along with three other people, a week ago.

Sources said the local administration had also sent a three-member jirga to Doaba. The jirga returned to Hangu after holding talks with militants.

The jirga members, including MPA Mufti Syed Janam, Hangu Naib Nazim Malik Gul Karim and JUI-F Hangu president Mufti Din Asghar, met Kohat DIG Qudratullah Marwat, 73 Brigade chief Brigadier Hilal, Hangu DPO Idrees Khan and security officials to apprise them about talks with the militants.