LAKKI MARWAT: Four highwaymen were killed in an exchange of fire with police in Darra Pezu town of Lakki Marwat district late Sunday night.

A police official said that a party of Shaheed Haibat Ali Khan police station was dispatched to the mountainous terrain when local authorities were informed about looting of vehicles on Bannu-DI Khan section of Indus Highway.

“The law enforcers came under attack when they reached the area and found the bandits busy in looting a goods transport vehicle,” he claimed. He said that police returned fire, triggering an intense exchange of gunfire, which lasted for some time.

The official said that the cops launched a search in the mountains when firing stopped and found the bodies of four bandits, who were later identified as Shah Zeb, Qayyum, Shahidur Rehman and Osama. “Police seized two AK 47 assault rifles, a repeater gun, a pistol and ammunition from the venue and shifted the bodies to a nearby hospital.”

“The killed highwaymen were wanted to police in various cases including attempted murder, attack on police and robberies,” he added.

Regional police officer Bannu Sajjad Khan and DPO Lakki Nazir Khan praised policemen for launching a successful action against robbers and said that protection to people’s lives and properties would be ensured at all costs. They reiterated that such actions against bandits and anti-state elements would continue in the future. — Ghulam Mursalin Marwat