BAJAUR, Feb 14: The political administration of Bajaur Agency shifted around 40 detained leaders and workers of the banned Tehrik Nifaz-i-Shariat-i-Muhammadi to Haripur central jail.

These workers had been arrested in different areas of the tribal agency after the government announced crackdown against extremist elements and slapped a ban on some religious organizations believed to be spreading religious intolerance in the country.

The detained leaders, who were shifted to Haripur under tight security on Thursday morning, also included TNSM’s Bajaur Amir Maulana Faqir Mohammad.

Sources said the decision to shift the TNSM workers from the agency had been taken after the political administration arrested a large number of anti-social elements and proclaimed offenders in a recent clean-up operation and lodged them in the prison at Khaar, the agency headquarters.

The Khaar jail, which can accommodate 140 prisoners, was full beyond its capacity, the sources said, adding that at present there were some 250 inmates in the jail.

A senior political official told Dawn that the TNSM workers, who were arrested under Section 40 of the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) one month back, were shifted to the Haripur central jail under directions from the provincial government.

He said the law enforcement agencies were conducting raids for the arrest of another top leader of the banned religious organization, Maulana Liaquat.

WOMAN KILLED: A young woman was allegedly killed by her husband on suspicion of having illicit relations with a neighbour in the Mamond area of Bajaur Agency on Thursday.

The alleged killer, Noor Mohammad, opened Kalashnikov fire on his wife Balquis and fled the area. The woman died on the spot.

The local administration has registered a case against Noor Mohammad and started investigations.