TANK, April 13: The political administration arrested 58 personnel of Khasadar Force here on Wednesday for staging protest against withholding of their salaries. Thirty of the arrested khasadars were shifted to Dera Ismail Khan Central Prison, sources said. They said that the khasadars staged a protest demonstration in front of the office of Frontier Region of Tank assistant political agent against withholding of their salaries.

Wearing black armbands, the protesting personnel demanded release of their salaries, which had been withheld by the administrations for the last four months.

The authorities arrested 58 khasadars for holding protest demonstration and sent 30 of them to Dera Ismail Khan jail, they added.

The political administration had withheld the salaries of all Class IV employees belonging to Bettani tribe of FR Tank under the collective responsibility clause of Frontier Crimes Regulation.

The action was taken after two FWO contractors identified as Abdul Haq Kakar and Farooq were kidnapped on Dec 28, 2010 by unidentified armed persons from Jandola Road.

The political administration held several rounds of talks with elders of Bettani tribe and sought their help in safe recovery of the kidnapped contractors but in vain.

In retaliation, the authorities withheld salaries of Class IV employees and halted all perks and privileges of tribal elders.  The tribal people showed concern over arrest of khasadars and demanded their immediate release. “Their children are dying of hunger as authorities have has stopped their salaries,” they said. — Correspondent