LAKKI MARWAT: A police party survived a militant attack in Bittani subdivision of the Lakki Marwat district here on Saturday.

An official said that a party of Wargarey police station headed by SHO Alamzeb was on patrolling duty near the Narey Bridge in the tribal region when militants attacked it with automatic weapons.

`The policemen returned the fire, and a gun battle ensued between the cops and the militants in the hard mountainous terrain,` the official said.

He said that the cops along with SHO Alamzeb remained unhurt in the firing attack.

The official said that reinforcements from Shahdikhel and Tajori police stations also reached the area to assist their colleagues under attack.

`Armed tribesmen also came out of their houses when they learnt about the attack on policemen,` he added.

The official said that along with the policemen the tribal people engaged the militants in an exchange of fire, forcing them to flee the area.

Meanwhile, Marwat-Bitanni Tehreek will hold a protest demonstration in Bakhmal Ahmadzai area on Nov 25 (Monday) against the non-availability of water in the Marwat canal.

An announcement to this effect was made by the Tehreek`s chairman Inamullah Khan during a meeting held here on Saturday.

Local elders and members of the rights body were in attendance.

After the meeting, Mr Inamullah told Dawn that local authorities of the irrigation department had added to the miseries of farmers by stopping release of water in the canal at the `behest` of Saifullah brothers.

`Wheat and other crops are in dire need of water,` he maintained. He said that the canal had been lying dry for the last several weeks.

Mr Inamullah said that they brought the issue into the notice of the local and higher authorities concerned, but to no avail. `Farmers fear if water is not released in the Marwat canal forthwith the newly grown wheat plants will wither away,` he added.

He asked the Marwat, Bitanni and Wazir tribesmen to attend the protest gathering for their genuine right of availability of water in the canal.