LANDI KOTAL (Khyber Agency), June 10: Activists of the Lashkar-i-Islami took control of the Bara bazaar on Saturday after announcing formation of a peace committee for Bara on Friday.

The gun-tottering activists took positions at entry and exit points of the Bara bazaar and invited elders and religious leaders of all eight Afridi tribes of Bara to help form the new peace committee.

In his message to local elders, the Lashkar-i-Islami Amir, Mangal Bagh, said the local administration had failed to control the law and order situation in the Bara tehsil.

He warned those who were found involved in kidnapping, car-lifting, robbery and other unlawful and un-Islamic activities of severe punishment.

The political administration, on its part, activated its Khasadar force and asked for assistance from Mehsood Scouts.

The Khasadar force and Mehsood Scouts started patrolling roads in Bara and took positions at all important government offices.

The situation in Bara had gone tense after bloody clashes between supporters of Mufti Munir Shakir and his opponent Pir Saifur Rehman in March which had left at least 32 dead and nearly two dozen injured. The old Bara peace committee was disbanded after the clashes.

Official sources confirmed taking over of the Bara bazaar by the Lashkar-i-Islami activists but did not tell about any possible action against them.

It is, however, learnt that the political administration is in constant consultation with commandants of Khyber Rifles and Mehsood Scouts about a possible operation against the Lashkar-i-Islami and various gangs of outlaws operating in Bara.

It is also learnt that curfew has been imposed in the Bara bazaar area.

A jirga of Zakhakhel edlers was held in Landi Kotal which warned of resistance if the group started its activities in the Landi Koal tehsil. Some Zakhakhel youths have taken position on hell tops in their area to prevent the entry of the Lashkar-i-Islami activists into Landi Kotal.