In a daring move, the Taliban on Monday hijacked 26 buses carrying about 450 students and teachers of the North Wazristan's Cadet College, Razmak, in the troubled Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) bordering Afghanistan.
The students were travelling to Bannu, a major town of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) for onward journey back home after the college was closed for summer vacation that began on Monday. The Bannu's police chief said several parents of students were also travelling in the buses.
Preliminary reports said 30 buses of the college left Razmak in the morning for Bannu from where the students were to leave for their respective destinations. As the buses reached Bannu near the Frontier Regiments (FR)'s posts, armed militants intercepted the buses and drove 26 of them back to the tribal areas. Only four buses could reach Bannu city.
Officials said nearly 500 students of the college have been kidnapped. Nobody has claimed responsibility but top militant leader Baitullah Mehsud operates in the area. Local authorities have formed a "jirga" of elders to negotiate release of the kidnapped students with the Taliban.
