PESHAWAR, Aug12: Militants gunned down three policemen and drove off with two prisoners who had been taken to a hospital for dental treatment on Friday.

According to sources, four policemen had taken the militants, Nadeem Abbas and Zakeem Shah, from the central prison to the Khyber College of Dentistry. When the policemen were waiting on the University Road for a cab to take the prisoners back they were attacked by gunmen who were on two motorbikes and a car. The assailants killed three policemen and drove away with their colleagues. They spared the forth policeman because he reportedly did not resist them.

The incident raised many questions on the manner in which such prisoners are taken to hospitals or courts.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Senior Minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour told reporters that a judicial inquiry had been ordered into the incident.

An official said the militants had been taken to the hospital for the second time in two days without proper security arrangement. He said local people had seen the militants fleeing to Khyber Agency.

The policemen killed were identified as Tariq, Hussain Jaffar and Raees Khan.

The prisoners are allegedly associated with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan of Dara Adamkhel. They were facing trial in cases of terrorist attacks and sectarian killings.

Peshawar police chief Imtiaz Altaf told reporters it was a case of sheer negligence and an inquiry would ascertain if someone was involved. —Ali Hazrat Bacha