NOWSHERA, June 5: Two policemen, a militant and three other people were injured in an armed clash in the Cantonment area here on Thursday.

A police vehicle was damaged in the two-hour-long clash as both sides used rocket-propelled grenades and heavy weapons.

Officials said that police signalled a car at the city’s bypass road to stop but the car proceeded to the Badrashi area where the militants took shelter in a house adjacent to a mosque.

Local people said that the militants opened fire and an RPG hit the police vehicle. Police called out reinforcements and the entire locality was cordoned off.

Witnesses said the exchange of fire between the two sides continued for more than two hours. Despite the siege and heavy reinforcements, the militants managed to escape.

Police said they had seized rifles, grenades, suicide vests, explosives and communication equipment from the house.Police officials identified the injured militant as Syed Hussain Amin who was shifted to the Lady Reading Hospital. Police said militant commander Qari Kamran of Nowshera district headed the group.

Superintendent Police (Investigation) Abdur Rashid Khan told journalists that Amin belonged to Mirali in North Waziristan.

A resident of Badrashi told Dawn that the militants had been active in the area for the past six months and attacked video and music shops.

SP Investigation Abdur Rashid said they had evidence which proved that the militants belonged to Bajaur and Waziristan areas and they had been involved in a recent motorway robbery in which a bullet-proof vehicle of currency dealers was attacked and Rs130 million looted. Three security guards were killed and two others injured in the robbery.

Our Correspondent from Darra Adamkhel adds: A prominent pro-government tribal leader, Mohammad Amir, who had played a key role in brokering a peace deal between the government and local Taliban, was killed by militants at a place about two kilometres from Darra bazaar on Thursday.

Amir and five other tribal elders were coming home after meeting Political Agent Siraj Ahmed, APA Sajid and political tehsildar in Kohat when the militants intercepted his vehicle, forced him to come out and shot him dead.