PESHAWAR, April 24: Five policemen were killed and two others injured when a gang of hardened criminals opened fire on them at village Banda Daud Shah Terri, in southern Karak district, Dawn learnt on Wednesday.

The sources told this correspondent that a Karak police squad went to Banda Daud Shah Terri village after receiving information about the presence of a gang of proclaimed offenders wanted by police in several cases of murder and attempted murder.

But when the police entered the village, Janat Gul, alias Jaggo, Shehzad Gul, Akhtar Gul and Aslam Khan allegedly opened fire at them with Kalashnikov rifles.

As a result, sepoy Dad Shahjehan, ASI Imam Shah, havaldar Mohammad Hakim and sepoy Abdur Rehman were killed on the spot, and, ASI Shamsur-Rehman, sepoy Noor Nawaz and sepoy Abdul Qayaas Khan received severe bullet wounds. Shamsur Rehman died later in hospital.

Sources said that the gang fled from the mountainous area while taking advantage of the night.

Police have started a search for the accused persons.