MINGORA, May 13: Police on Sunday resorted to baton-charge and fired teargas shells to disperse protesting activists of the proscribed Tehrik-i-Nifaz-i-Shariah Muhammad in the Kabal area. At least 25 activists were arrested.

Some policemen and other people were injured in scuffles. They were taken to a hospital.

The activists had gathered at the Kabal ground to demand release of their fellows arrested during the last couple of days.

Huge contingents of police and the Frontier Constabulary backed by armoured personnel carriers have been deputed at sensitive spots in Kabal and Matta areas – the strongholds of the group.

Tension has been high in the area for a couple of months as a prominent figure of the organisation, Maulana Fazlullah, has been propagating through his illegal FM radio station against the government and polio campaigns and preaching his own version of Islam.Recently, the group had announced holding of a protest rally on May 20 to press for the release of its chief Maulana Sufi Mohammad, imprisoned for over five years. However, since there is a ban on activities of banned organisations, the provincial government has asked the local administration not to allow the rally.