LANDI KOTAL, Feb 8: Tension gripped Landi Kotal and the Afghan border town of Torkham when some 50 tribesmen were taken hostage following a clash between rival groups of transporters over an increase in the parking fee here on Wednesday.

Later, shopkeepers in Landi Kotal and Torkham closed their shops in protest against alleged high-handedness of some Zakir Zakhakhel tribesmen and demanded their immediate arrest.

The administration issued arrest warrants for heads of the rival groups, Khalid Khan and Zakir Zakhakhel, and 10 supporters of each group for their alleged involvement in firing in a public place.

The two groups are at loggerheads over the issue for several weeks. The administration had constituted a jirga of elders and representatives of the transporters’ union to resolve the dispute.

In its verdict on Monday, the jirga upheld the increase in the parking fee and announced Rs500,000 fine for violators. The Zakir group is opposed to the increase in the parking fee.

Violating the jirga decision, supporters of the Zakir Zakhakhel group rampaged the office of the rival Khalid group in Torkham and fired shots in the air. Windscreens of some coaches were smashed by stray bullets.

Relatives and supporters of the Khalid Khan also resorted to shooting and beat up Zakir’s supporters.

People of the Zakir group fired in the air in Landi Kotal bazaar and exchanged hot words with a local elder. They blocked the main Peshawar-Torkham Road, forcibly stopping vehicles belonging to the Khugakhel tribe. Commuters were forced out of their vehicles and divers and conductors were beaten up severely. At least, 50 Khugakhel residents were taken hostage by the Zakir group.

The Khugakhel tribe which owns the coach stand in Torkham has called a jirga of its elders to review the situation.