PESHAWAR, June 22: Police claimed to have killed five suspected militants in an alleged encounter in Sarband area in the suburbs of Peshawar on Wednesday morning.

Addressing a press conference at Malik Saad Khan Police Lines, the acting Superintendent of Cantonment Circle, Imtiaz Shah, said that about 60 suspected militants attacked the Manzoor Shaheed police check post after midnight, but police successfully repulsed the attack.

Five of the assailants were gunned down and the rest of them managed to flee, he said. However, he did not disclose their identities, adding that investigations were under way.

He said two Kalashnikovs, one hand grenade and some ammunition had also been recovered. He said militants had made it a habit to attack police posts on the outskirts of Peshawar, but this time police were fully alert to foil their designs.

The official failed to explain why only two Kalashnikovs had been recovered even though five militants had been killed in the ‘encounter’.

One of the slain people appeared to be in the 50s while ages of the rest ranged from 25 to 35. Most of the victims had bullet injuries on their heads and chests.