LANDI KOTAL, April 6: The political administration of Khyber Agency in Bara sub-division has set April 7 as deadline for the Shalobar tribe to hand over a minor who was kidnapped from Peshawar in January this year.

The boy, Ismail Yousuf, was kidnapped by unidentified armed men along with his parents when the family was travelling in a car on the Ring Road near the Bara-Peshawar intersection and was taken to nearby tribal area.

The kidnappers initially kept the entire family hostage but later released Ismail’s father Mohammad Ismail and his mother. The minor is missing since then. Mohammad Yousuf works with the NWFP Communication and Works Department.

The Bara administration launched an operation against the kidnappers in late January but abandoned it after an assurance given by the Shalobar elders that they would apprehend the culprits themselves and hand them over to the authorities.

The administration in the meanwhile arrested Kapthan Khan of Shalobar tribe and handed him over to CIA police in Peshawar.

It was learnt through reliable sources that during investigation, Kapthan Khan admitted that he was involved in Ismail Yousuf’s kidnapping and also provided information about the whereabouts of his colleagues.

Acting promptly, the Bara authorities raided a house in Shalobar area and arrested a notorious outlaw Mir Wali. He is at present languishing at Bara prison for investigation. Mir Wali was also wanted by both Khyber political administration and Peshawar police in various cases of kidnapping and carjacking.

The authorities started constructing a checkpoint on Bara-Jamrud Road about two weeks back to check movement of criminals. But Bara residents resisted this move and ultimately the construction of the checkpoint was postponed till April 7.

In order to pressure the Shalobar tribesmen, the administration has closed down some 50 of their shops in the Bara market.

The administration has warned them of a clean-up operation if Ismail was not handed over to them till Monday.