PESHAWAR, Oct 5: A hardened criminal was killed in a shootout after police raided a hideout of proclaimed offenders in the Mosakan area near Warana in Karak district on Saturday.

Sources said that a large contingent of police supported by armoured personnel carriers raided the hideout of proclaimed offenders who had been active in the area. The raid was led by district police officer Mohammad Ayub and Karak ASP Romel Akram.

Police contingents from Bannu and Kohat were also called for the operation. After the encounter which lasted nine hours, police searched several houses in Mosakan and recovered two Kalashnikovs, three hand-grenades, a wireless set and a binocular.

The sources said the raiding party laid a siege to the village in the early hours and attacked the hideout. The police also came under heavy fire from the criminals and some officials escaped narrowly, the sources said.

Ring leader of the proclaimed offender, Usman, received a bullet and died on the spot, while his three associates managed to escape.

Later, DPO Mohammad Ayub held a press conference at the Latambar police station and said that criminals would be wiped out from the district.

In April this year, four policemen were killed in an encounter with outlaws in the Terri area of Banda Daud Shah tehsil of the district.