PARACHINAR/KOHAT, Sept 3: The political administration of Kurram Agency on Saturday detained 22 residents of Alizai and Chekki villages in connection with attacks on passenger vans, officials said.

They said that the action had been taken under the territorial responsibility clause of the Frontier Crimes Regulation and the detainees would remain in custody till the real culprits were handed over to the administration.

Under the law, it is the tribesmen's responsibility to maintain peace in their respective territories.

The arrested persons belonged to both the Shia and Sunni sects. Unidentified persons had ambushed two vehicles in lower and central Kurram on Thursday and Friday, killing 11 passengers and wounding two others.

The attackers had also exchanged fire with local tribesmen, who chased them after the ambush. But no loss of life was reported in exchange of fire between the attackers and tribesmen.

Meanwhile, three students who were kidnapped after attack on passenger coaches in lower Kurram in March last are still in the militants' custody.

According to their relatives, Qaiser Hussain, a university student, and two children named Akmal Hussain and Jalil Hussain were kidnapped along with 30 other passengers.

They said that after payment of compensation the militants had freed 27 people hailing from Turi and Bangash tribes, but the three were still in their custody.

In Kohat, the armed lashkar foiled an attempt of kidnapping of a young boy in Mandoori village on Saturday.

According to police, Omer Hayat, 17, was going home with his mother when four armed men kidnapped him at gunpoint in Khwaja Pyala area in the jurisdiction of Gumbat police station.

The lashkar, locally known as chagha party, chased the kidnappers who released Mr Hayat due to fear of arrest.

The police have launched investigation after registering a case against the unknown kidnappers.