LANDI KOTAL (Khyber Agency), April 1: The security forces have taken over the headquarters of Mufti Munir Shakir at Nala in Khyber Agency after successful negotiations with the Mufti supporters.

The negotiations were held at the Fort Slope in Bara tehsil. Some area elders also participated in the talks to help persuade Haji Mangal Bagh, the self-proclaimed commander of Lashkar-i-Islam, to vacate his headquarters located in Nala, Malikdinkhel area. It is learnt that Mangal Bagh and his accomplice left their base for Tharkho Kas area of the remote Tirah valley on Friday night.

The Lashkar-i-Islam was left incapacitated when paramilitary troops on Wednesday fired mortar shells from Fort Slope to close the illegally installed FM radio station of Mufti Munir Shakir.

Life in Bara returned to normal on Saturday as markets, schools and government offices were opened.

Earlier, the Bara and Jamrud political authorities had rounded up at least 50 supporters of Mufti Munir Shakir from different localities. At least 32 people have so far lost their lives in bloody clashes during the last one-month between the supporters of Mufti Munir Shakir and Pir Saifur Rehman.

A college student from Shalobar area sustained serious injuries when he tried to resist his arrest by the Khasadar force on Shalobar road. He was later admitted in a Peshawar hospital for treatment.