LANDI KOTAL, May 20: A Christian leader, kidnapped over a month ago, was recovered and one of his kidnappers was arrested after a brief encounter between outlaws and Khasadars on Wednesday night, officials said.

Political authorities in the Bara sub-division had constituted a team of Khasadars to raid a house in the Mamonzai Gandao area. Outlaws resorted to firing on the Khasadar team when it raided the house. The team was led by Line Officer Abdul Wahab.

A brief encounter ensued and Wali Mohammad was arrested after he had been injured in the shootout. Later, the kidnapped Christian leader, Yaseen Masih, was recovered from the basement of the house.

Yaseen Masih was kidnapped from the main Bara bazaar a month ago and initially it was believed that he was being held in the remote Tirah valley. Officials said that Yaseen was shifted to Mamonzai Gandao two days ago.

The Khasadar force demolished the house of Mohammad Wali in accordance with tribal traditions. The accused was later shifted to a lock-up in Bara, while the administration dispatched a Khasadar party to the Tirah valley to track down other accused. Meanwhile, the Bara administration has failed to find any clue to the whereabouts of a trader, Sargand Momand.