KOHAT, May 6: A meeting of local elders organized by the National Awami Party on Wednesday called for stern action against the kidnapping, torture and humiliation of the principal of the Cadet College Razmak by members of a criminal gang from the North Waziristan Agency.

Participants of the meeting asked the NWFP governor and the political administration of the North Waziristan Agency to apprehend the culprits and award them exemplary punishment to deter similar actions by anyone in the future.

A former member of the provincial assembly and brother of the cadet college principal, Aurangzeb Khan, criticized what he called government's inaction, saying it had done nothing to arrest the culprits four days after four days.

Khan Mohammad Khalil, his brother told reporters, was kidnapped near Isha checkpost when he was on his way to Kohat on Saturday. Six armed men had stopped his official car and whisked him away towards Thall in their own vehicle.

He said that they proceeded on foot for about an hour and a half after abandoning their vehicle, adding that his brother, being a heart patient, refused to accompany the criminals and sat down in protest.

Later, he said, criminals snatched Rs70,000 from him (the principal), adding that he was carrying the money for his treatment in Peshawar, a gold chain and a wrist watch. He said that the members of the gang had also deprived him (the principal) of his shoes, medical reports, adding that his brother was tortured for several hours.