"This is a conspiracy by President Asif Ali Zardari and America against tribesmen and the distribution of money among the tribal women was nothing but a joke with their centuries-old tribal culture and traditions," said the militant leader, adding the Taliban would not allow "anyone to convert the tribeswomen into beggars."

He said the "arrested people" are being interrogated by the Taliban. "We may later release the detainees if they confess to their crime and promise to oppose the BISP and its activities in Bajaur," he said.

The Taliban in North Waziristan tribal agency have already banned the BISP and warned that anyone found receiving funds from the programme would be awarded a "death sentence."

Meanwhile, Taliban fighters in the restive Swat valley occupied a college and a petrol station and also kidnapped a traffic constable on Tuesday.

Armed militants stormed the Government Technical College in Mingora, the main city in Swat, and occupied all its rooms.

Shah Dauran, the traffic constable, was performing his duties when unidentified gunmen took him to an undisclosed location in a pick-up truck.