LANDI KOTAL, Jan 13: Security forces and political administration demolished at least six houses in Landi Kotal and Jamrud on Tuesday as part of the on-going military operation against militants and outlaws in Khyber Agency.

Landi Kotal Political Tehsildar Nasir Khan told Dawn that local tribesmen suspected of assisting or sheltering militants and outlaws had been issued notices and their houses were demolished upon their failure to surrender to administration.

He said that a convoy of security forces was also targeted with a time device at roadside in Mirdadkhel but the explosion caused no damage. The house of a local elder Malak Abu Saeed was demolished after the explosion as his house situated adjacent to the site of the blast, official said. Authorities also arrested five local residents.

At least five more houses in Kam Shalman, Mukhtar Khel and Zargarano Kalley had also been demolished. The owners of the demolished houses were identified as Nek Mohammad alias Saqi, Ilyas Khan, Khadi Gul and Haji Gulbat.

A security official Major Abbas told Dawn that the house of Hashim Khan in Kam Shalman was a base of kidnappers. A son of a high-ranking army official, who was kidnapped few weeks ago, was kept at the same house, he added.

Hazrat Ali and his brother Hazrat Nabi alias Tamanche Mula are still at large while the administration had arrested all the six local elders who had earlier brokered a deal between the two wanted brothers and local administration.

When the security forces and Khasadar force were busy in demolishing houses of suspect tribesmen, unidentified gunmen resorted to indiscriminate firing in Landi Kotal bazaar for few minutes. The firing incident caused panic among the shopkeepers and they pulled down their shutters in fear.

In the meantime, political administration pasted posters at prominent places in Landi Kotal, asking Afghan refugees to report to the authorities for furnishing guarantees about their good conduct.

In Jamrud tehsil, all educational institutions and government offices opened on Tuesday after remaining closed for 13 days when the military operation “Here I Come” was launched in Jamrud.