KALAYA, Oct 27: About 25 Sikh families, who had left their villages due to threat from Taliban last year, returned to their homes in Orakzai Agency on Wednesday.

About 120 Sikh families had fled their villages last year after militants imposed Rs10 million as protection tax on minorities residing in Orakzai Agency. The displaced Sikhs had gone to Punjab and Peshawar.

Militants had killed two Sikhs and kidnapped many others. Sikhs are permanent settlers of the tribal area. These families had shifted to tribal area after the fall of last Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 18th century.

Gorjit Singh said that the area had been cleared of militants and peace had returned. He said that remaining displaced families would soon come back to their homes in Orakzai.

Political Agent Riaz Mehsud and other senior officials saw off displaced families. Officials said that more than 93,000 displaced people had come back to Orakzai Agency. Security officials said that 90 per cent area had been cleared of militants and government writ had been restored.