PESHAWAR: Two policemen were martyred and four others were injured in a clash with criminals in Nizampur area of Nowshera district on Tuesday evening, police said.

Nowshera district police officer Mansoor Aman told Dawn on phone that the two policemen were martyred while four, including Nizampur police station SHO, were injured.

He said that the incident took place during a routine patrol in the remote hilly area, when the police came under attack.

Mr Aman said that a search operation was going on in the area and they were ascertaining whether those attacked the police party were criminals or militants.

However, Mr Aman did not confirm any death from the other side.

The injured were rushed to the district headquarters hospital, Nowshera, for treatment. Three of the injured cops were brought to the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar.

A spokesperson of the capital city`s main hospital told Dawn that the injured were in critical condition.

The slain cops were identified as Asad and Asfandyar, while SHO Nizampur police station Masood Khan, Zahid Khan, Akif Khan and Zainullah were injured in the clash.