MIRANSHAH, Aug 13: Six people, three of them bandits and three security guards, were killed and eight others were injured in an encounter in the Mirali Bazaar on Tuesday morning.

The guards were identified as Atiqur Rehman, Hidayatullah and Qadeer, and the three bandits are Naheedullah, Dost Ali and Rehmat Noor. The injured, including passers-by, were taken to hospitals in Miranshah, Mirali, and Bannu.

All the shops and business centres in the bazaar were shut down and the people ran for cover as the bandits exchanged fire with the security men.

The local administration called out the militia and levy forces to control the situation.

According to eyewitnesses, the bandits had come down from the mountains to rob the people when the security guards ordered them to put down their arms. But, the outlaws opened fire on the security men. This led to the exchange of fire which resulted in the killing of three bandits and three guards.