KOHAT, Aug 21: Unknown assailants opened indiscriminate fire on a motorcycle shooting dead a policeman and injuring another of the rider squad of the Mills Chowki near the new bus stand late on Saturday night.

A pedestrian Ghani Gul, resident of Naway Kalay area of Kohat, was also injured in the fire. His condition was stable while the injured constable, Tanveer Ahmad, was referred to Peshawar due to his serious condition.

The police said constables Bashir Ahmed and Tanveer Ahmed were patrolling the mills area on their motorcycle when unknown armed men opened fire on them with automatic weapons.

Bashir Ahmed, belonging to Karak district, died on the spot while his colleague was injured.Police re-enforcements reached the area and launched search operation in which seven suspects were arrested.

The body of the constable, injured policeman and the pedestrian were shifted to KDA divisional headquarters hospital. The injured constable was then taken to Peshawar in critical condition. Officials said it was yet to be ascertained who could be behind the killing. They could either be members of a local notorious group of criminals or the militants against whom an operation was going on in Lachi tehsil for kidnapping a doctor, who is still missing.

It is to be recalled that a member of the Miramshah-based militant group had been arrested in injured condition from Ghurzandi area on Monday last in crossfire with police who had disclosed names of five of his accomplices during interrogation.

The body of the fallen constable Bashir Ahmed was laid to rest in his native village of Latambar in Karak district with full official honour.