KOHAT, Aug 22: Law enforcement agencies on Sunday arrested a high profile militant allegedly also involved in the kidnapping of 35 police recruits from Orakzai Agency in July 2008.

Sources told Dawn that the militant was arrested from a food distribution point established for the internally displaced persons belonging to Orakzai Agency. The point was located in the jurisdiction of Hangu police station and the militant came to collect food.

During investigation, the sources said, the militant told the police that he had rented a house in Lakhti Banda area. One of his victims, a police head constable, identified him and made his arrest possible.

He was later shifted to unknown place for interrogation amidst high security. The sources alleged that his name was being kept secret by certain group of officials who were demanding Rs1 million from him for his release.

“His name is not being disclosed because some of the police officers want to release him after striking a money deal,” the sources said, adding that otherwise they would have held a press conference to take credit for arresting him.

The militant, the sources said, belonged to a gang which kidnapped 47 government servants, beheaded two others and put 13 personnel of the Frontier Constabulary before firing squad in July 2008.

He and his gang had also abducted the 35 recruits of Police Training College Hangu, who were crossing Orakzai Agency to reach Peshawar due to closure of the Indus Highway in Darra Adam Khel.