MARDAN: A police officer and a proclaimed offender were killed while a constable sustained serious wounds during an encounter with outlaws in Katlang tehsil here on Friday.

Police officials said the victims were identified as Fazal-i-Malik Khan, Station Housing Officer of Kharky police station, while the proclaimed offender was named Shah Khalid. The injured constable was identified as Fayaz Bacha. They said both the police officials received critical bullet injuries. However, SHO Fazal-i-Malik succumbed to his injuries on way to hospital.

The officials said following a tip-off about presence of proclaimed offenders and other criminals in a house located in Alo area, a police team led by slain SHO raided the suspected house owned by Speen Khan to arrest the wanted outlaws. However, on their arrival, criminals holed up inside opened indiscriminate fire on the personnel.

Police returned the fire, killing a proclaimed offender Shah Khalid and arresting his brother, Nasir. The officials said two accomplices, Naseem and Waseem, managed to escape the scene.

Soon after the incident, a fresh contingent of police rushed to the spot, cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.

Funeral prayer of the slain SHO was offered at the Mardan Police Lines which was attended by police high-ups and elders. Later, the deceased was laid to rest in his native Bashkhali village.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2016