GHALANAI, July 23: The Umar Khalid group of the Mohmand chapter of Tehrik-i-Taliban freed 30 kidnapped men here on Wednesday.

A 10-member jirga headed by Maulana Dr Sher Ali Shah of Darul Uloom Haqqania, Akora Khattak, held talks with the group at the Khwalo Dag Madressah in the Khwazay area. The jirga would continue its efforts for the release of all 80 detained members of the Shah Khalid group.

A local member told Dawn that the jirga had succeeded in getting 30 of the detainees released and efforts were continuing to get the remaining men of the Shah group freed.