MARDAN: Two policemen were shot dead near the Shagu Naka police post in the Shergar area on Monday, police said.

Head Constable Farhad Ali and Constable Muhammad Nawaz were performing their duties near the post when assailants appeared from a nearby field and opened fire on them, killing Mr Ali on the spot and injuring Mr Nawaz.

The injured was taken to the tehsil headquarters hospital in Takhtbai where he died during treatment.

Funeral prayers for the deceased were offered at the Mardan Police Lines.

Later, the bodies were taken to their native village in Katlang tehsil.

Talking to Dawn, District Police Officer Dr Mian Saeed Ahmad said all aspects of the incident were being investigated. He said the attackers belonged to a gang of heroin smugglers and another criminal network.

He said a search operation had been launched in different areas to arrest attackers. He said it would be premature to say anything about the involvement of terrorists in the killing.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2017