HANGU, Aug 12: Three policemen were killed and two passersby were injured when gunmen opened fire on a police patrol near Togh Sarai on Saturday night, officials said.

A pick-up was caught in the firing which wounded the two civilians.

The deceased were identified as Din Khan, Ahmad Hussain and Lal Hussain. Police registered a case against unidentified persons and said that it was premature to suspect any group for the attack.

Police often come under attack in the Hangu district. A suicide bomber struck his explosive-laden car at the main parade ground of the Police Training College on July 19 killing seven people and wounding 24 others. Officials said that six policemen and eight other people had been killed during the last few months.

Deputy Inspector-General Kohat Zulfiqar Chema visited the area and announced Rs500,000 for the family of each deceased and said the government would induct the immediate family members of the deceased into the police force.

Meanwhile, police defused a rocket at a graveyard near Hangu.