PESHAWAR, Jan 15: Two alleged extortionists were killed in an encounter with police here on Sunday. A constable was also killed in the shootout, which took place in Duran Pura area in the limits of Pahari Pura police station.

The deceased police constable, who was stationed at the Agha Mir Jani police station, was identified as Shaukat Ali. One of the extortionists was identified as Shakirullah, resident of Khan Mast Colony here. Police were yet to establish the identity of the other.

It is pertinent to mention here that while cases of kidnapping for ransom have frequently been occurring in the provincial capital incidents of demanding extortion are not heard of in last many years.

An official at Pahari Pura police station told Dawn a local trader, Noor Mohammad, whose residence was loca-ted in the limits of Agha Mir Jani police station, lodged an FIR a few days back complaining that some extortionists were demanding Rs2 million from him.

The complainant claimed that the alleged culprits had warned him to pay the money failing which his house would be blown up The complainant again informed the police on Sunday morning that the said persons had again called him and directed him to bring the money to a certain spot. The police claimed that they asked the complainant to go there while the police would follow him and keep an eye on the area.

The official said later on the said persons again called the complainant and asked him to visit another spot situated at Duran Pura, on the eastern side of the provincial capital.

The police alleged the two extortionists riding a motorcycle, when sensed that the police had also been accompa-nying the complainant, opened fire at them.

During exchange of fire a constable and two alleged culprits were killed.

Bodies of the alleged extortionists were shifted to mortuary for autopsy.

The police official claimed that they had been investigating the case to ascertain whether the killed culprits belonged to any organised gang of extortionists or were acting on their own.

Meanwhile, four of a family sustained burn injuries in a gas explosion in Qazi Kaly on Sunday.

Farmanullah, son of Habibullah, resident of Qazi Kaly near Ring Road, had left the gas heater on before sleeping on Saturday night. Early in the morning on Sunday, the explosion took place inside the room when one of the persons switched on the light.

Those who got injured in the explosion were Farmanullah, his wife and two children.