SWABI, Nov 20: Four militants were killed when police repulsed an attack on a post in a remote area of Swabi district early on Wednesday.

About 12 militants attacked the Nathyan police post in the area adjoining Mardan and Buner districts.

The seven policemen manning the post repulsed the attack. Four of the attackers were killed in the gunbattle which continued for about two hours.

Police took the bodies to Kalu Khan police station.

It was the second such attack within four days in Swabi, the district of Khalid Haqqani, the new deputy chief of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. Two policemen were killed in that attack on Darang post.

Officials said a high alert ordered in the area had helped foil Wednesday’s attack. District police chief Sajjad Khan told Dawn that reinforcement from nearby police posts was sent to the scene of the clash immediately after the attack.

The remaining attackers fled.

Police cordoned off the area and launched a search operation, but no arrest was reported.