ISLAMABAD: Two policemen were killed and another injured in an attack on a picket on I.J. Principal Road on Wednesday.

According to the police, the incident took place near the old toll plaza on I.J. Principal Road where a team of police officials were deployed to scan suspicious vehicles.

While the checking was vehicles was in progress, two to three persons arrived at the spot and opened fire on the police. As a result, three policemen suffered bullet injuries. The attackers managed to escape.

After getting information, more police officials reached the spot and found one of their colleague dead and two injured. The police then shifted the deceased and the injured to the hospital where another policeman also succumbed to his injuries.

The deceased were identified as Constable Khurram Shazad and Head Constable Saqlain. Constable Jahanzeb suffered a bullet injury to his leg.

A police officer told Dawn it was yet not clear how many attackers were there and whether they came on a motorcycle or were on foot.

The eye-witnesses had different versions. Some said that the attackers were three and were on a motorcycle while other stated that there were two men who came on foot, the officer added.

It seemed to be a planned attack but the motive was yet to be ascertained, he said, adding that the policemen were deployed to scan suspicious vehicles and it might be a possibility that the attack was carried out to give a safe passage to a vehicle loaded with harmful material.

Separate teams have been constituted under the supervision of SSP Counterterrorism Force and SP Investigation to probe the incident.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2019