LANDI KOTAL, Aug 30: The Khyber agency political administration has handed over a list of 28 hard-core criminals to a representative jirga of Bara elders and instructed them to either produce these criminals or their next of kin in the next 24 hours.

The jirga was demanding an end to the ongoing operation against criminals in their area in which they alleged that some poor and innocent people were also targeted.

The administration held several rounds of talks with the jirga and it was after the formation of tribal Lashkar, comprising all major tribes of Bara sub-division that the authorities handed over the list of criminals. These outlaws are wanted by the political administration and Peshawar police in a number of kidnapping, car-lifting and other heinous crimes.

It is learnt from sources in Bara that the jirga has given an assurance to the administration that all wanted criminals would either be handed over to the authorities or would be forced to leave their area.

The jirga also resolved to burn houses of those who were involved in criminal activities and their properties would be confiscated. Anyone found assisting or patronising criminals would be fined heavily and their houses torched, it was also resolved.

The Bara Peace Committee had recently expressed its anguish over the ongoing operation in Bara and demanded of the administration to take their elders into confidence before expanding the sphere of operation to other areas of Bara.

They alleged that contrary to official claims, only a few hard-core criminals were arrested in the operation so far, and ordinary and innocent people rounded up instead, by the khasadars and police.

A resident of Bara Qadeen, Tilawat Shah Bacha alleged that ample time was provided to the outlaws to make good their escape while ordinary residents were given only one hour to pack up and later their houses were demolished.

He demanded an independent enquiry into the so-called clean operation in which the police and political authorities allegedly took bribe from certain residents and prevented their houses from being bulldozed.