TIMERGARA, Aug 14: A group of local people of the Maidan area of Dir Lower, a stronghold of the outlawed Tehrik-i-Nifaz-i-Shariat Mohammadi (TNSM), has asked Taliban militants to leave the area by Friday.

According to reports reaching here, a group of about 30 to 40 Taliban militants had taken shelter in a house owned by a man who himself was wanted in a number of cases.

Local people told this correspondent that they had captured two militants while they were in a bazaar.

They were later released with the consent of elders of the area but were asked to convey a message to their colleagues that they must leave the area by Friday or be ready to face consequences.

According to sources, Taliban militants had rejected the demand.

It is learnt that a jirga is negotiating with the militants and local people to resolve the issue.