PARACHINAR, March 19: The Peshawar-Parachinar road was once again blocked when armed men kidnapped nine passengers from Bagan area of Kurram Agency while the Toori tribe made 10 persons hostages from different areas of the troubled agency on Wednesday.

The road was closed as unknown miscreants intercepted a van on way to Parachinar from Peshawar and kidnapped nine persons of the Toori tribe at gun point. In retaliation, the Toori tribe took hostage ten people of the rival tribes.

Reports of the kidnapping people from rival groups created panic in the agency. The frightened people of the area expressed concern on repeated events of kidnapping and called for restraint and harmony among the rival groups. They feared that such incidents might disturb the already deteriorated law and order situation in the tribal region.

Closer of the road had once again put the people in trouble, people said. Patients, students and servicemen would be among those who would sufferer the most due to the present situation.

Elders of different tribes demanded of the government to intervene to protect innocent people of the area from any disaster, which was feared due to repeated incidents of violence.

About two weeks earlier, armed persons had kidnapped four passengers from Hangu and the Toori tribe also kidnapped 18 people in retaliation. As a result the main Parachinar-Peshawar highway was closed for all kinds of vehicular traffic.

However, with the efforts of the local jirga, comprising elders of Kurram Agency and officials of political administration, the kidnapped persons from both sides were released. As a result the main highway was opened for traffic and people of the area took sigh of relief.