Rivals clash: Three kidnapped men found dead

HANGU: The bodies of three men, who were kidnapped from Doaba area of Hangu on Wednesday, have been found in Zara Jan Jungle area.

Aleem Khan, an official of the Doaba police on Sunday said the deceased, Moeen Khan, Naeem Khan and Hidayatullah, residents of Darsamand had gone missing on March 27 and an FIR was filed.

Moeen was slaughtered while Naeen and Hidayat were shot dead, said Aleem adding the bodies were handed over to relatives who buried them in their hometown. Another official said the men were aides of Mullah Nabi Hanfi, a pro-government Taliban commander in Orakzai, and alleged that these men were kidnapped and killed by militants.

Darsmanad was a stronghold of Nabi Hanfi supporter, Hakeem Khan. After the cross-firing on Friday night between Hakeem Khan and Asif Baghi’s groups, which killed three people, residents forced both groups out and demolished Hakeem’s compounds. The militant faction moved to Hangu following military operations in Orakzai Agency.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 1^st, 2013.