GILGIT, July 27 Unidentified assailants on Tuesday killed a police officer in an ambush on the outskirts of the capital city, police sources said.

Duty officer at the City Police Station Ashiq Hussain told Dawn that Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Shabbar Hussain of the Special Branch was heading towards the city for duty on his motorbike with his two years old nephew when the assailants opened fire on him with sophisticated weapons at Naupura, five kilometres west of the city, at about 8am. The ASI received multiple bullet injuries and died on the spot. However his nephew remained unhurt. His body was handed over to his heirs after legal formalities.

The motive behind the incident could not be ascertained.

The official added that a police party, headed by DSP headquarters, Sultan Faisal when reached the spot, some unknown persons attacked them but they remained unhurt. The police have registered two separate cases against unidentified persons and started investigation. —Correspondent