KOHAT, Feb 7: A police officer and a constable were killed and six other policemen were injured when militants attacked their van with rockets and automatic weapons in Balimina area of the Hangu district on Monday.

The patrol van was ambushed when it reached close to Darband near the mountains of Samana.

Additional SHO of Balimina police station Anwar Khan died on the spot, while Constable Abdur Rasheed succumbed to injuries in hospital.

SHO Arif Hussain and Constable Nasir Iqbal, who were injured critically, were sent to Peshawar for treatment. The other injured were identified as Constables Jalil, Moeed Gul, Jameel and Nasir Iqbal.

The van was destroyed in the attack. The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the ambush.

The Kohat region DIG formed a five-member investigation team after inspecting the site of the incident.

The Frontier Constabulary and police sealed the area and during a joint operation arrested 22 suspects with weapons.

Police registered a case and started investigation.