MANSEHRA, Nov 15: Three timber smugglers were killed and four policemen injured in an exchange of gunfire in Khaliyala area of Tanawal on Tuesday evening.

District police officer Mansehra Ijaz Ahmad told reporters here that timber smugglers opened fire at a police team, which returned fire leaving three attackers dead.

He said four policemen, including station house officer of Pulrah, also suffered wounds after being fired at by the smugglers.

The DPO said whereabouts of two members of the police team was unknown, adding that search for them was on.

He said the dead were Mohammad Ishtiaq, Khanwaz and Mohammad Nawab.

He said two timber smugglers suffered wounds and were under treatment at the King Abdullah Teaching Hospital in Mansehra. A heavy contingent of police reached the spot after the incident.

Meanwhile, people of Khaliyala torched two police vehicles against the incident. BISP:

Mansehra police on Tuesday arrested an alleged fraudster after additional sessions judge Wajid Ali cancelled his pre-arrest bail.

Mazhar Ali Shah is accused of defrauding women of money by falsely promising them provision of financial and food assistance udner the Benazir Income Support Programme.

Samina Bukhari had lodged an FIR with the city police against Mazhar, Bano Kanwal, Mohammad Ali, Farrukh Raza and Mohammad Azam, saying they received Rs70,000 from her after promising them financial assistance and food under BISP.

She further said the accused later failed to keep their promise and threatened to kill her victims when asked to return money.