LANDI KOTAL (Khyber Agency), July 26: Dozens of residents of Bagh and Qamarkhel-Sipah localities in Tirah valley vacated their houses after rival religious groups traded heavy gunfire on Tuesday night.

Those who vacated their houses were mostly supporters of Lashkar-i-Islam.

Sources said heavily armed supporters of Ansarul Islam and Lashkar-i-Islam had taken positions on hilltops.

Ansarul Islam men on Tuesday occupied at least four houses in Garhi village, forcing their inmates to remove the flags of Lashkar-i-Islam.

The group’s amir Qazi Mehboob had on Tuesday demanded recovery of about a dozen of his supporters from the captivity of Lashkar-i-Islam.

Meanwhile, around 70 supporters of Lashkar-i-Islam sneaked into Bagh area through Arhang valley after their amir Mangal Bagh advised them on Tuesday through his FM radio station to consolidate their positions.