LANDI KOTAL, Jan 23: At least three kidnappers and two security men were killed in a daylong shootout in Jamrud tehsil of Khyber Agency on Monday.

Officials said that Khasadar and Levies personnel assisted by Peshawar police, Anti-Narcotics Force and FC surrounded the house of Malik Gul Rehman in Ghundi area after getting information about the presence of a gang of kidnappers inside.

They said that sensing danger the kidnappers opened fire on the security forces, which was retaliated.

Local sources said that exchange of fire continued for almost eight hours as the operation was launched at 9am and ended at 5pm in the evening.

Officials said that two khasadars identified as Mir Mat and Yousuf lost their lives when hit by bullets fired from the besieged house.

Another khasadar received injuries and he was shifted to a hospital in Peshawar.

Officials claimed to have killed three kidnappers while one of their accomplices managed to escape. Forces also put the house on fire after killing the three outlaws.

Local sources, however, said that a police official from Peshawar ordered killing of two kidnappers when they surrendered soon after the operation was launched.

Local sources said that one of the kidnappers held the forces engaged for almost eight hours after he saw execution of his accomplices at the hands of police. He was killed only when the forces used rocket launchers to destroy the house, they added.

Officials of political administration denied allegation about killing the two outlaws after their surrender.

In Nowshera, four policemen were injured when a remote controlled bomb planted by suspected militants along the main G.T. Road exploded on Monday.

Officials said that four personnel of Elite Force including ASI Mohammad Rizwan, constables Riaz Anjum, Ihsanullah and Jawad were on way to Nowshera from Pabbi in a police van.

“When they reached the Refugee Camp Bridge near Azakhel, a remote controlled bomb planted beneath the bridge, exploded and injured the four policemen,” they added.

The injured policemen were taken to district headquarters hospital in Nowshera from where ASI Rizwan and constable Riaz were referred to Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar.

District Police Officer Mohammad Hussain along with a police contingent reached the site and started search operation. Seven suspected persons were arrested, he said.

In Bannu, a man and his wife received injuries when a rocket hit a house on Monday morning.

Sources said militants fired three rockets on Bannu Cantonment at 6:45am from unspecified location. One of the rockets fell on a house, injuring Mohammad Nawaz and his wife Shabana Bibi.

The second rocket landed in the courtyard of a mosque while the third one fell on a road. The boundary walls of the house and the mosque were damaged.

The injured were taken to district headquarters hospital. The injured man in stated to be in critical condition.

Police cordoned off the area and started search operation soon after the incident. Several suspects were arrested and shifted to undisclosed location for interrogation.

In Mohmand Agency, an improvised explosive device, planted by suspected militants along a roadside at Qandharo area of tehsil Safi, was defused by security forces on Monday.

The security forces also conducted search operation in the area. However, there was no report of any arrest.