LAKKI MARWAT: An alleged kidnapper in police custody was killed and a passerby injured when an armed man attacked a police van in Naurang town here on Monday.

The firing incident took place in front of Shaheed Asmatullah Khan Khattak police station and the attacker was arrested along with the pistol he used in the crime. Officials said a party of the police station had taken an alleged kidnapper, Mir Gosh of Madakhel locality of North Waziristan tribal district, to the court of area magistrate to obtain his one day custody.

On return from the court a man opened fire on the police van when it reached in front of the police station, killing Gosh on the spot and inflicting injuries to a passerby identified as Habibullah of Marmandi Azeem village, they maintained.

The officials said the wounded villager was taken to a hospital in Naurang town wherefrom he was shifted to Bannu in critical condition. They added that the killed man had abducted a woman from North Waziristan district.

After registration of case under section 496-A (enticing or taking away or detaining with criminal intent a woman) of PPC, police had arrested both Mir Gosh and the woman, they said, adding the woman was sent to judicial lockup and Mir Gosh was produced before area magistrate to obtain his police custody.

The officials said the attacker identified as Wali was husband of the woman. Police said they registered a case under relevant sections of law and began investigation.

Meanwhile, police arrested three proclaimed offenders during surprise raids in Sultankhel and Tajori areas on Monday.

An official said DPO Asif Gohar had directed SHOs of Dadiwala and Tajori police stations to raid the hideouts of criminals in their area limits. He said two separate police parties raided the hideouts of wanted men and captured Naqeebullah, Syed Noor and Sadullah.

The cops also seized weapons from the outlaws who were wanted by police in murder, attempted murder and robbery cases, he added.

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2018