KOHAT, Sept 4: Three policemen were killed and two others injured seriously in an encounter with a group of outlaws in the Landi Kachai area here on Thursday.

District Police Officer Abdullah Khan said that on a tip-off, police raided a house in the area near the border of the Orakzai Agency, where the gang of Nusrat Hussain alias Balo, wanted in many cases of kidnapping for ransom, extortion of money and assassinations, was hiding.

The police party asked the proclaimed offenders to surrender, but they opened fire, killing two policemen on the spot and injuring three others. One of the injured later died in hospital.

The policemen killed were identified as assistant sub-inspector Kamran and constables Asghar and Musawar.

The Kohat police had to call for help from the Karak police and 1,500 policemen were deployed in various parts of Kohat. However, the accused fled towards the Orakzai Agency.The injured policemen, SHO Jehangir and constable Rehman, were taken to the KDA Hospital.—Correspondent