DERA ISMAIL KHAN/LANDI KOTAL, July 31: Unidentified motorcyclists shot dead a tribal elder of South Waziristan Agency in Tank district on Sunday while three militants were killed in fresh fighting between rival groups in Tirah valley of Khyber Agency.

Sources said that tribal elder Malik Arsala Khan was going from bazaar to his home when three armed persons riding a motorbike opened firing on him. He received serious injuries and was shifted to hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.

The assailants managed to escape. However, police said that search was continued for arrest of the attackers. No group has claimed responsibility for killing of Malik Arsala Khan.

Being a pro-government tribal elder, the deceased was appointed chief of a peace committee four months ago when displaced Mehsuds began returning to their areas from Dera Ismail Khan and Tank.

In Tirah valley, three persons were killed and two injured in clashes between two militant groups.

Sources said that Lashkar-i-Islam and Ansaarul Islam once again intensified their armed struggle to gain control of Sanda Pal hilltop.

Both sides used heavy arms against each other, sources said, adding three combatants were and two others received injuries. “The victims belong to both sides,” they said.

Khasadar Force in Malagori area of Jamrud arrested four kidnappers and recovered an abducted trader on Sunday. Officials said that Mohammad Alam, an electronics dealer of Karkhano Market, was kidnapped for ransom on July 18. Khasadars raided the hideout of kidnappers on a tip-off of local informers, officials said.

In Landi Kotal, khasadars defused a time device planted at a football ground. Officials said that a final match between local football teams was to be played on Sunday.

Organisers later arranged the final match, which was won by Hamza Club by defeating Khyber Union.