LANDI KOTAL (Khyber Agency), July 4: Two detainees in the Jamrud lock-up tried to commit suicide on Monday night after their pleas for release had been rejected by the authorities. They claim to have completed their jail terms.

Shahzada, a resident of Jamrud, and Ghulam Rasool, an Afghan national, tried to slit their throats with razors but were overpowered by other inmates.

Both had been awarded seven-year imprisonment under the Frontier Crimes Regulation in identical cases of car snatching in July 1999 and June 1997, respectively.

Ghulam Rasool completed his prison term in 2004 whereas Shahzada was expected to be freed this month after completion of his term.

However, misusing the authority assigned to them under the FCR, the Jamrud political administration has refused to release the two due to their inability to furnish personal sureties.

Local social and political circles while expressing concern over denial of justice to the two detainees, have appealed to the NWFP governor to order their immediate release.