SHO Riaz Khan is said to have received threats from criminal gangs, politicians and the Taliban operating in the area. - Reuters/File photo.

KOHAT Two policemen were killed and another sustained injuries when unidentified persons attacked their vehicle near Rawalpindi interchange on Monday.

Sources said that a police party led by SHO Riaz Khan was on routine patrol on the Indus Highway when armed men opened indiscriminate firing on their vehicle near Rawalpindi interchange. SHO Riaz and his bodyguard, constable Omer Gul, were killed in the attack while an ASI from special police force was seriously injured.

The members of police squad said that they were crossing the Rawalpindi interchange when a car came close to their vehicle and its inmates started firing on them. The SHO died on the spot while his bodyguard succumbed to his injuries later. The injured ASI was shifted to hospital.

His colleagues said that Riaz Khan would be remembered as an active police officer, who performed his duty with gallantry and always showed courage while putting hands on influential criminals in the area.

He had been receiving threats from different gangs of criminals, politicians and the Taliban operating in the area on the jurisdiction of Saddar police station.

High-ranking police officers reached the scene after the incident and ordered several teams to seal the whole district especially the routes leading to the tribal areas. DIG Mohammad Idrees was himself supervising the operation.