RAWALPINDI: Two policemen, including a station house officer (SHO), were injured in a shootout between a police raiding party and criminals in the R.A.

Bazar area of the garrison city on Wednesday night, police said.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Tahir Attique claimed that two wanted criminals, who were also injured in the exchange of gunfire, had been arrested while raids were under way to arrest the man who fired at the police party from the rooftop of his house and managed to flee in the ensuing melee.

The SP said a police party, led by R.A. Bazaar SHO Malik Sajid, set out to arrest a gang of criminals suspected of involvement in street crime.

He said that when the police party raided the house to take the two wanted men into custody, another man opened fire on the party from the rooftop.

Police returned fire, injuring the two criminals.

SHO Sajid was taken to the District Headquarters Hospital, where he is said to be in stable condition. Constable Shazaib, however,is said to be in critical condition and has been moved to the Combined Military Hospital.