PESHAWAR: Two personnel of the excise, taxation and narcotics control department were martyred and another was injured when unidentified persons opened fire at them in Nowshera district on Saturday night, officials said.

They said that the department had information on possible smuggling, and two different teams were deputed with one each on motorway and GT Road.

`The reason why two teams were deployed is that there was possibility that the suspected smugglers might change their route,` a senior official said, adding that the team on GT Road signalled a white pick-up truck to stop but, instated of following the signals, unknown persons inside the vehicle opened fire.

The official said that two persons were martyred and another was wounded in the attack. `We are on it. We are investigating the case,` the official said.

On May 29, 2023, a similar attack took place on Indus Highway near Mattani when unknown armed men attacked customs officials, injuring five of them.