MANSEHRA: A robber was killed and two policemen were injured in an ‘encounter’ in Lada Malli forest of Kaghan valley on Friday.

“A robber was killed and two policemen were injured during an encounter occurred after a group of bandits opened fire at police in the forested area of the valley,” said Malik Asif, Sub-Inspector of Kaghan police station.

He said that the incident happened during a search operation which was started following a robbery incident in the area. “When a group of four to five robbers saw the police party, they opened indiscriminate fire on them, injuring two police men, Inyatur Rehman and Iqlakh Ahmad,” he added.

The official said that the police retaliated and fired on the robbers, killing one of them on the spot. The dead robber was later identified as Afsar Khan of Dasu area of Kohistan district.

Mr Asif said that all the other robbers managed to escape the area and that police were making efforts to arrest them.

“We are sure that one of the fleeing robbers was also injured in retaliatory fire, but his aides helped him to fee with them.

But we are going after them and soon will be able to arrest them,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2014