MARDAN, Aug 3: People of Hoti area have alleged that the law-enforcement agencies have failed to check crime in the district. Situation in Hoti is out of control and armed gangs, including Allahdad Khel, Bilandkhel, Gulibagh, old Noormankhel, Baghdada and Par Hoti are free to roam in the presence of police. Robberies, kidnappings for ransom and killings have become a common practice and the police failed to check it.

The Hoti and Gulibagh areas are so sensitive that people fear an armed fight among contesting panels in the local polls. Despite the fact that the Election Commissioner has issued rules and regulations condemning an open display of weapons, but the police fail to stop violations. The people said that if the situation remained tense, women could not come out to caste vote on the polling day and demanded security arrangements in the two areas.

TWO KILLED: Meanwhile, two persons were killed in two different areas of Mardan. A boy, identified as Rahimzada, was slaughtered in Dooranabad, Mardan. The cause of killing could not be identified.