KHAR: The local administration on Saturday arrested two leaders of a traders association for clashing with landowners on the issue of construction of new shops in Inayat Kallay Bazaar.

Local people and officials of political administration told Dawn that president of Inayat Kallay traders association, Haji Shah Mohammad and Sufi Mohammad, were arrested following a clash with landowners of the area over construction of new shops in the commercial centre.

They said the clash was erupted when the landowners with the help of their servants were trying to construct new shops in front of the existing ones.

The trader’s association leaders along with a number of shopkeepers immediately reached the site and asked the landowners to stop the work. However, the landowners refused, which led to a fight between the two parties.

Afterwards, people from both the groups began throwing stones and used sticks to beat each other, which resulted in injuries to two people, including Bajaur Levies Subedar Mansab Khan.

Soon after the incident, officials of the administration along with Levies personnel reached the spot and arrested both the leaders of the traders association for taking law into their own hands.

Later, the administration also stopped construction of the shops.

It’s to be mentioned here that traders have been opposing the construction of shops, saying these would affect their businesses.

SECURITY BEEFED UP: The political authorities have beefed up security in different commercial and public places following a blast at a vegetable market in Parachinar, the headquarters of Kurram Agency, on Saturday morning.

A local administration official told Dawn that security of bazaars, commercial centres and public places across the agency had been enhanced following the Kurram blast, which claimed 20 lives.

He said the fresh security measures were being taken in line with the directives of Fata secretariat to thwart any unpleasant incident in the region.

The official said additional personnel of Bajaur Levies were being deployed in and around the public places to ensure people’s safety. He said the people, particularly traders, had been asked to keep a vigilant eye on suspects in their midst.

Published in Dawn January 22nd, 2017