LAKKI MARWAT: The police claimed on Saturday to have killed an outlaw during an encounter in Jabukhel area of Lakki Marwat.

The police launched a search operation in the rural area after rivals killed two women and an infant in a firing and grenade attack on Friday, district police officer Imran Khan said.

He added the outlaws opened fire and hurled a hand grenade on the policemen when they surrounded their hideout, injuring Sub-Inspector Damsaz Khan.

He said the policemen returned the fire, killing an outlaw identified as Naveed.

The DPO said the police seized an AK-47 assault rifle, two magazines and bullets from the killed outlaw and intensified efforts to arrest other members of his gang.

In a separate development, the police arrested two proclaimed offenders during raids on their hideouts in Meenakhel and Najiaabad localities of Lakki Marwat. They were identified as Qudratullah and Rafiullah.

The police also seized a shotgun, a repeater gun and ammunition from their possession. They were wanted in attempted murder cases.

Also in the day, Lakki Marwat police station personnel arrested seven people from rival groups who had taken positions over a land dispute in Manjiwala area. The cops seized seven pistols, a rifle and bullets from the arrested men. Separate cases were registered against them.

Meanwhile, illegal structures were razed during anti-encroachment operations in Lakki Marwat, Serai Naurang and Bannu on Saturday.

Assistant commissioner Umar Bin Riaz supervised the operation in Lakki Marwat, where illegal structures where removed near Saeedkhel Mor.

In Naurang, the municipal workers cleared 15 kanals of state land of permanent and temporary encroachments.

In Bannu, the TMA’s anti-encroachment squad razed illegal structures in Domel Bazaar.

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2021