PESHAWAR, Sept 13: The political authorities with the help of tribal Lashkar have demolished 267 houses of criminals belonging to the Shlobar and Kambar Khel sub-clans of the Afridis in Bara, Khyber agency.

The operation is in progress and authorities have decided to expand it to the Tirah valley and other hilly areas, which have become hideouts of carjackers, kidnappers, murderers and absconders.

The Lashkar razed house of Gulab Khan on Thursday in Totki and burnt down all of his belongings.

He had kidnapped 13 people from Peshawar for ransom and kept them in Bara.

The Lashkar got the captives released and sent them to their homes.

According to sources, the chief of the Lashkar, Akhunzada Kamarkhel, had given a deadline to Gulab Khan to release the captives by Thursday, but  he failed to do so.

The Lashkar also gave a deadline to kidnappers Shireen Khan, Malang Jan, Javed, Waria Khan, Khan Saeed and Mir Said to surrender on Friday before the political authorities and warned that otherwise their houses would be demolished and their property would be confiscated.

The authorities arrested a number of other criminals and demolished their houses.

Some residents have protested over the modus operandi of the police and militia.

Some traders accused the militia and police of highhandedness and extortion.

The authorities claimed that criminal groups, including Sial, Mujahid, Haji Gul and Hakim, had taken shelter in Malik Din Khel area of Tirah valley and other far-flung areas.

The Afridi lashkar warned its sub-clans not to cooperate with the criminals and expel them from their areas.