KOHAT, Jan 10: The NWFP home secretary has suspended the assistant political agent of frontier region of Darra Adam Khel with immediate effect for his failure to curb kidnappings, carjacking, drug smuggling, printing and selling of fake currency and certificates and other crimes rampant for the last one year.

The decision was taken after a prisoner, a notorious carjacker escaped from his custody a few days back.

The APA was himself carrying the criminal from Darra to his Kohat office when a small number of tribesmen stopped the vehicle near Mulayano village (village of religious people) and while holding the officer at gunpoint took away the criminal with them.

The officer failed to take any action against the criminals or arrest the carjacker for unknown reasons despite having sweeping powers to deal with the tribesmen under the 40 frontier crimes regulations.

The home and tribal affairs department had also initiated inquiry against the said officer, Altaf Hussain, to check the allegations of his involvement in corruption and collaboration with the criminals hiding in the tribal area.

He had also been charged with negligence in handling the case of the kidnapping of the secretary of governor’s inspection team last year in Darra Adam Khel and his alleged recovery after payment of ransom.