HANGU, May 21: A head constable was killed when residents of Tora Wari village stormed the Doaba police station on Sunday to free a proclaimed offender was put in the lock-up there.

Police had arrested Nasir Khan and recovered a Kalashnikov and two hand grenades from his possession. Nasir Khan was wanted by police in a number of cases.

After the arrest of Nasir Khan, the residents of the village held a jirga and decided that they would free him by force from police custody.

Police had already called the Frontier Reserve Police to protect the police station and avert any untoward incident.

Police claimed that the villagers armed with weapons and rockets had stormed the station.

The police retaliated and a fierce exchange of fire took place, killing Wisal Khan, head constable of the Frontier Reserve Police.

During the exchange of fire, the attackers freed Nasir Khan and whisked him away.

A police jeep was also badly damaged in the shootout.

A case has been registered against 22 people and the police were conducting raids for arresting the accused.