KOHAT: One armed highway robber was arrested and another escaped after exchange of fire with police party on Eidgah Road in Junglelchel area here on Wednesday.

According to a statement issued by the office of district police officer, the Junglekhel police received information that highway robbery was underway and people were being looted on Eidgah Road at gunpoint.

A police team led by the SHO reached the area and cordoned it off. After seeing the police the robbers started firing at them which was retaliated. It said that the police managed to arrest one alleged robber identified as Usman Munawar and seized a Kalashnikov from his possession. His accomplice Sher Zaman fled the scene. An FIR has been registered against Munawar.

Meanwhile, the city and cantonment police arrested 31 suspects and nine proclaimed offenders during a search operation, which was also extended to the rural areas.

Three Kalashnikovs, four rifles, two shotguns, six pistols and three kilogrammes of hashish were also seized during the operation. The suspects were handed over to the investigation teams of respective police stations for interrogation.

The police also arrested 11alleged gamblers fromMalangabad area and registered a case against them. Correspondent