LANDI KOTAL, March 7: A jirga of Kukikhel tribe has asked all armed groups to vacate its area immediately, threatening to take action against those, who provide shelter to militants on its soil.

“Besides putting his house on fire, a fine of Rs1 million will be imposed on anyone found guilty of sheltering militants in kukikhel area,” Haji Zabita Khan, a tribal elder, told Dawn.

The jirga, held in Triah valley the other day, was attended by hundreds of Kukikhel elders and tribesmen.

The tribal elder said that use of force would be their last option to expel militants from the area as first they would try to convince armed groups through negotiations.

The jirga decided to hold talks with all groups including Taliban of Tariq Afridi group, Lashkar-i-Islam, Tawheedul Islam of Zakhakhel tribe and Ansarul Islam to stop them from using the soil of kukikhel for any type of violence.

“Kukikhel is a peaceful tribe. We will not allow anyone to shed blood of innocent people on our soil,” Zabita Khan said.

The jirga also demanded of the Tirah-based Ansarul Islam to refrain from providing passage to militant groups in the areas under its control. Ansarul Islam, a rival group of Mangal Bagh-led Lashkar-i-Islam, is based in Bagh-Maidan area of Tirah valley near Orakzai Agency.

Kukikhel tribe had succeeded in expelling Taliban from its area after fierce fighting in October last year but paid a heavy price for that in August last year when militants carried out a suicide attack on a Friday congregation in Jamrud, killing more than 50 tribesmen.

Taliban of Tariq Afridi group had also warned of more such attacks against Kukikhel tribe. Sources said that holding a jirga was a significant development and it reflected that influence of Taliban had diminished at least in Kukikhel dominated areas of Tirah valley.

Meanwhile, headless body of a grade IX student was found in Akkakhel area of Bara on Wednesday.

Local sources said that unidentified killers had slit the throat of Abdul Mateen, student of a private school, and left his body in Gud Malang locality.

Nobody has claimed responsibility for the gruesome murder.

KILLED: At least three persons were killed when rival groups clashed in Tirah valley on Wednesday.

Sources said that Lashkar-i-Islam and Zakhakhel dominated Tawheedul Islam exchanged heavy gunfire in Naree Bara locality to gain control of Tol Mela hilltop.

Sources said that at least three persons were killed and many others injured in the clash. Both sides have reportedly used mortars and rocket launchers against each other. It could not be immediately ascertained as to which group suffered casualties.