DERA GHAZI KHAN, Oct 25: Wheat smugglers deprived Border Military Police officials of their vehicle and weapons, including a wireless set, in the Vahowa police station limits in Taunsa tehsil, some 200km from here, on Saturday.

Reports reaching here said four BMP officials were patrolling to check wheat smuggling in the area adjacent to South Waziristan. During patrolling, they intercepted a vehicle loaded with wheat, but the officials were overpowered by some seven smugglers equipped with sophisticated weapons.

The outlaws forced the officials to surrender their vehicle and weapons. Later, they drove away with the snatched vehicle and the smuggled wheat.

It was not known whether the smuggler entered Balochistan or South Waziristan. The snatched vehicle was later recovered which the smugglers had deserted at some distance away The officials, including Dafedar Arif and Jamadar Attique Khetran, had to return to their Vahowa post on foot.

BMP Commandant Tariq Bukhari said some BMP officials might be involved in the incident, but the real picture would emerge after an investigation. —Correspondent