GHALANAI, May 8: Taliban set on fire two dens of heroin peddlers at Mianmandi bazaar, some eight kilometers from here, on Wednesday night after expiry of three days deadline set for the alleged drug pushers by them.

Taliban had set three days deadline for the owners of the two dens in Haleemzai tehsil of Mohmand Agency identified as Majeed Khan and Nisar Khan to end their activities and switch over to other business.

But instead of complying with Taliban’s directives the alleged drug peddlers gathered some addicted persons to resist the move.

Taliban set on fire both the dens after injuring the some of the people present there. The political administration has confirmed the incident.

The local Taliban had banned kidnapping for ransom, drug trafficking and other illegal and un-Islamic activities in the volatile tribal agency.

They also whisked away the brother of an alleged killer who was blamed for the murder of his uncle over a family dispute in Michani area of the agency.

FREED: The local Taliban on Thursday also set free two persons identified as Zarbdin son of Iqbal Hussain and Roghan Shah son of Samandar Khan Isakhel hailing from tehsil Pindiali after thorough interrogation.

KHASADARS FINED: Hundreds of Khasadars from Burhankhel and Essakhel tribes have threatened disobedience and abandoning duties against the special fine imposed on them by the assistant political agent of Lower Mohmand.

A jirga of Khasadars was held at the APA office here on Thursday in this connection which was attended by Malak Taj Khan, Gulab Jan, Malak Sahib Shah and others.

Participants of the jirga said that several checkposts were allegedly blown up by unidentified militants, after which political administration fined Khasadars belonging to Burhankhel and Essakhel tribes, under the collective responsibility clause of FCR.

The Khasadars said they were already disturbed due to price hike and meager salary of Rs6,000 only. They threatened if the political administration did not take its decision back they would launch a disobedience movement and would not perform their duties.

Mirzada, a Khasadar, said they were buying uniforms and even badges from their own pockets besides bearing their dining expenses. He termed the decision of deducting Rs5,500 from each Khasadar belonging to the two tribes as cruel and unjust.

He demanded of the government to give more incentives to Khasasdars and equip them with modern and sophisticated weaponry to cope up with militancy.

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