DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Security forces in their continued of fensive against militants and their facilitators killed three men during an encounter in the Kulachi area on Friday night.

According to officials, security personnel signalled the men to stop for snap-checking during a search operation but they opened fire which the law enforcers retaliated, resulting in the death of the three suspects.

Police shifted the bodies to the district headquarters hospital in Dera Ismail Khan.

The police said that one of the deceased, Maqbool alias Booli, carried Rs1 million head money and was wanted in cases of heinous crimes, including sectarian targeted killing.

The other two suspects were Maqbool`s associates but their identities could not be ascertained.

Security has been tightened in and around Dera Ismail Khan and police in uniform and plain clothes are deployed at all entry points of the city.