LANDI KOTAL, March 4: Armed tribesmen of Kukikhel and Zakhakhel tribes blocked the Peshawar-Torkhum Road on Tuesday to protest against the highhandedness of Lashkar-i-Islam and failure of the political administration to ensure law and order in Khyber Agency.

At least three persons were killed, two injured and a number of vehicles were damaged when the activists of Lashkar-i-Islam tried to abduct Malik Guli Shah Kukikhel on Friday last.

The protesting tribesmen blocked the road at Takhta Beg, Walikhel and Sultankhel areas for the whole day, bringing the traffic to a complete halt. They however remained calm and peaceful throughout the day. The worse effected passengers because of the road blockade were women and children who were either going to or coming from Afghanistan.

Many elderly men, women and children walked for several hours to reach their destinations. Vehicles taking goods to Afghanistan were also stopped at the main road.

Talking to Dawn at Takhta Beg in Jamrud, a Kukikhel elder Haji Shamshad said that abduction, car snatching and armed patrolling of Lashkar activists had become an order of the day. He said that the residents of the area were terrorised by the Lashkar and they felt highly insecure.He questioned the local administration’s inability to control the unlawful activities of the Lashkar.

He alleged that the Lashkar-i-Islam members were brandishing all sorts of heavy and sophisticated weapons during their patrolling of the area despite an official ban on the display of heavy weapons. He warned of a prolonged protest if the local administration failed to provide them security.

Jamrud Assistant Political Agent Rassol Khan Wazir said that they were carefully watching the situation and would take action at a right time. He however expressed his satisfaction over the peaceful protest by the Kukikhel and Zakhakhel tribesmen, adding that the administration was in constant contact with the area elders.