November 07, 2008	Friday	Ziqa'ad 8, 1429

KOHAT, Nov 6: The administration of Orakzai Agency freed on Thursday a deputy and three commanders of Baitullah Mehsud in exchange of 10 security personnel under a deal with the Taliban.

Maulvi Rafiuddin and his three companions were arrested on July 10 in Doaba area of Hangu.

The security personnel released by the militants are: Havaldars Tanveer Akhtar and Arshad and sepoys Mohammad Rizwan, Imran Ali, Mohammad Imran, Mohammad Naseer, Ghulam Mustafa and Shahid of the Thall Garrison of army’s IXth division based in Kohat and Subhan Gul and Dawar Khan of Kurram Scouts.

More than 18 civilians are still in the custody of the Taliban, including a Polish geologist who was kidnapped from Attock.

Sources said about 400 Taliban had besieged the Doaba police station after the arrest of Maulvi Rafiuddin and demanded his release.

They kidnapped the civilians and security personnel after the Maulvi was not released. They murdered three of the kidnapped men. A military operation launched in the area claimed the lives of 13 FC personnel and a number of militants.

The Taliban continued to mount more pressure on the government and kidnapped 30 police recruits in the Orakzai Agency. They gave the government one week to release Rafiuddin and when this was not done they killed two of the recruits.

After a series of clashes in the region, the administration struck a secret deal with the militants and released Rafiuddin and his three companions on Wednesday night.