LANDI KOTAL (Khyber Agency), Feb 8: Kidnappers have set free two men in Bara, officials and relatives said on Tuesday.

Mian Zawathuddin, a hardware dealer, was set free on Saturday night and Zahid Ali, an engineer, on Sunday near the Bara bazaar. They were kidnapped for ransom on June 13, and Sept 2, last year, respectively.

The Bara political administration in collaboration with the local peace committee had recently arrested some leaders of a group of outlaws, including Sedak Zakhakhel and Aseelzada.

Bara Political Tehsildar Afsar Ali told Dawn that during interrogation the two had provided useful clues about the whereabouts of the kidnapped men.

The peace committee on Feb 3 demolished the house of Mr Zakhakhel and issued warning to his accomplices Hashmat, Yaghistan and Akbar. The three are wanted by the Bara authorities and Peshawar police in a number of kidnapping cases.

Mr Zakhakhel has reportedly confessed to his involvement in the kidnapping of a dental surgeon, Dr Sarwar Shah.

Afsar Ali said the administration was in touch with relatives of the three absconders and the peace committee to secure the release of a student, Guljit Singh, believed to be in the custody of Yaghistan and his men. Yaghistan wanted his brother released from Bara prison in return for the setting free the student, the tehsildar added.