LANDI KOTAL, Sept 26: A tribal lashkar captured nine militants and rescued a kidnapped cleric after an exchange of fire in the Malagori area of Khyber Agency on Thursday night.

Militants belonging to the Lashkar-i-Islam had killed the caretaker of a mosque, Rukhsan Khan, and kidnapped prayer leader Maulvi Umar Gul from Sheikhwal village of Landi Kotal in the evening.

While the group was taking the kidnapped man to Bara via Shalman at around midnight, armed volunteers of the Malagori tribe intercepted them.

An exchange of fire lasted about two hours, leaving three Lashkar-i-Islam activists injured. They were captured along with six others. The kidnapped prayer leader was also rescued. Two vehicles of the militant group were set on fire by the tribesmen.

The injured militants were taken to the Hayatabad Medical Complex, in Peshawar, in the custody of the Khasadar force, while other captured men were handed over to Malagori elders.

The Lashkar-i-Islam threatened to ban entry of Malagori tribesmen into Bara if its activists were not released.

The Kalakhel tribe in Bara tehsil has also raised a tribal force to prevent entry of militants in its area along the border with Mattani and Darra Adamkhel.

The tribe’s elders announced that those found supporting or sheltering militants would be fined Rs5 million and their houses demolished.