KOHAT, Jan 18: Six officials of the Frontier Region (FR), Kohat, have been arrested for allegedly helping a criminal escape from the custody of law-enforcement personnel. The ringleader of a gang of assassins, kidnappers and carjackers was arrested six months ago but escaped from the FR lockup on Eidul Fitr — the day when all senior officials were on leave.

Deputy Administrator Riaz Khattak has claimed that the arrested officials include a subedar, four constables and a clerk on the suspicion of helping the criminal escape. They are being interrogated by senior officials.

Mr Khattak said they had raided many places but could not find Sakhi Badshah who was declared a fugitive 20 years ago and has been living an active life since then in the tribal areas.

His arrest was made possible when the interior ministry issued a list of 24 most wanted criminals hiding in Darra Adamkhel. Of the 24, the administration could arrest 15, including Sakhi Badshah who was regarded as the most dangerous and influential of them all.

According to one of the khasadars, Badshah was taken out from the lockup by the staff for a walk at 7.30pm. He simply ran away after climbing the boundary wall of the FR headquarters. Under the law, the tribal administration was supposed to shift hardened criminals to the district prison during their trial period.