LANDI KOTAL: The political administration of Landi Kotal on Monday restricted movement of all types of vehicles during nighttime.

The authorities pasted pamphlets at prominent places in Landi Kotal Bazaar, asking local people to avoid travelling from 10pm to 5am. The people were directed to take prior permission from local administration or security officials in case of any emergency at nighttime.

However, the pamphlets gave no contact numbers or names of any specific official from whom the permission could be sought. Assistant Political Agent Tayyab Abdullah, when contacted, said that curfew was not imposed in Landi Kotal at night. There was no ban on movement of people but they just had to inform FC or political administration before getting out of their houses late in the evening in their vehicles, he said.

The official said that the restriction was imposed to avoid any harm to innocent people.

He said that there were reliable reports about the movements of some suspicious vehicles late in the night around the army camp and surrounding localities.

Clash leaves eight militants, two soldiers dead in Landikotal

The restrictions were put in place, keeping in view the safety of the general public, Mr Abdullah said.

Meanwhile, local administration in collaboration with security forces has established a number of checkpoints on the roads leading to the army camp and Landi Kotal Bazaar.

Local tribesmen, however, complained about the harsh behaviour of the security personnel posted at these checkposts. They said that in most of the cases they were stopped and questioned unnecessarily at the checkpoints.

They also complained about manhandling of local people by the personnel of Frontier Corps at Charwazgai and Qasabkhana checkpoints. They said that security personnel slapped and shoved some of the local people over petty issues.

Meanwhile, a young resident of Jamrud was injured when security forces fired at him on Monday.Family sources said that Rahat Sher along with his friends was walking on roadside near Sakhi Pul during relaxation in curfew timings when he was fired at by forces without any prior warning.

He was admitted to a hospital in Peshawar for treatment where his condition was stated to be out of danger.

In Akkakhel area of Bara, a passerby was injured in crossfire between volunteers of local peace committee and members of a militant group on Monday. Also in Akkakhel, gunmen abducted a local tribesman Said Ghani from outside his house. Reason behind his abduction could not be known.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2014