PESHAWAR: A heavy exchange of fire took place between law-enforcement agencies and unidentified attackers in front of the Corps Commander House on the Khyber Road on Thursday night, police said.

An official of the Eastern Police Station told Dawn that two unidentified attackers were killed after troops guarding residence of the Corps Commander opened fire.

‘We are not sure why they (troops) started firing. Only soldiers can offer comments on the incident,’ the official said.

Big flames were seen on the main road in front of the Corps Commander’s residence and the fire brigade was called in to extinguish the fire. Officials said that identity of the dead had not been ascertained.

‘It is premature to say that the dead were attackers or passersby,’ an official source said.

Soon after the incident, army and police sealed the Khyber Road and started a search operation in an area that houses Governor House, Chief Minister House, Judicial Complex and Civil Secretariat and sensitive installations.

The firing lasted more than 20 minutes. Witnesses also confirmed that two bodies were lying on the road. The residence of the Corps Commander is located near the Pearl Continental Hotel, which was bombed on Tuesday night.

Police said the search operation was in progress and surrounding areas had been cordoned off.