SWABI: Three undertrial prisoners were killed and another was injured when unidentified assailants attacked a car, which was carrying them back to Swabi judicial lockup from the courts here on Friday.

A police official said the prisoners were travelling back to jail in a car escorted by police personnel after appearance in separate cases.

“A policeman was driving the car and another was sitting on the front seat, while the four prisoners were sitting on the back seat,” said a police official on condition of anonymity, adding as they reached near Nadra office on Swabi-Jehangira Road four assailants riding two motorcycles opened fire on them from a close range, and escaped.

Witnesses said two prisoners were killed on the spot, and another succumbed to injuries in hospital, while the fourth one was critically injured. The policemen remained unscathed.

The bodies and the injured were taken to Bacha Khan Teaching Hospital.

The deceased were identified as Ehtisham Khan, who hailed from Jaganat village of Razaar; Wasim Khan belonging to Akora Khattak and Sudais Khan of Manki village of Chota Lahor. The injured prisoner, Irfan Khan, hailed from Nowshera.

Meanwhile, a robber, who snatched a gun from a policeman and tried to escape from their custody, was allegedly killed in crossfire on Friday.

DSP Chota Lahor Fazal Sher Khan said the deceased robber, Aamir Khan from Bajaur district, was overpowered by people on Monday when he was fleeing with Rs15.2 million snatched from a trader.

A trader was killed and his brother was injured when they resisted a robbery attempt by a gang of five robbers after they attacked them near their house in Kaya village of Chota Lahor.

It was learnt that police had taken Aamir to Timergara, Lower Dir, for tracing and identification of one of four remaining robbers.

“When the police were coming back the tyre of the police vehicle got punctured near Shago bridge in Yar Hussain area here. In the meanwhile, Aamir allegedly snatched a Kalashnikov from a policeman and started firing. The policemen retaliated to the fire, killing him,” DSP Fazal Sher said, adding police were continuing efforts to arrest the remaining four members of the robbers’ gang.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2025