MARDAN, March 16: One policeman was killed and eight others were injured after a police van hit an explosive device in the Dobai Ada area on Sunday. An SHO and an ASI were among the injured.

Three of the policemen were taken to the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar where constables Feroz Ghani and Gul Sher were said to be in a critical condition. The policeman who died in hospital has been identified as head constable Qaiser Khan.

The vehicle of the Choora police station was on routine patrol when it hit the bomb activated by a remote control.

Station House Officer (SHO) Syedul Abrar Khan and Assistant Sub-Inspector Ali Khan are being treated in the district headquarters hospital in Mardan.

District Police Officer (DPO) Tahir Khan visited the site of the blast and urged police to keep a strict watch on activities of militants.

It may be mentioned that militants have waged a number of attacks on police stations and vehicles during the recent past.

Two encounters took place between the Mardan police and militants in which two police officers and three militants were killed.

Local people claim that a large number of militants are active in the area, using nearby mountains as their hideouts.