MANSEHRA: Twenty-five policemen were sacked and three were suspended in Torghar over absenteeism.

`The services of 25 constables have been terminated after they were found absent from duty during surprised visits to police checkposts and stations in the district,` Ijaz Ahmad told reporters here on Wednesday.

Ahmad said the services of three other constables had been suspended for absenteeism until the inquiry against them was complete.

He said the policemen formally warned against absenteeism would be sacked if they didn`t heed warnings.

The DPO said the district was highly sensitive and couldn`t afford absenteeism by the policemen.

`Those wanting to stay in the police will have to be on duty regularly otherwise they should quit. This is not a profession where absenteeism can be tolerated,` he said.

Mr Ijaz said the district had remained militancy-prone as it was in the middle of Buner, Shangla, Swat and Swabi and therefore, he couldn`t see checkpoints unoccupied at all.

He said he had been paying surprise visits regularly to police stations and checkposts and that constables found absent from duty would be terminated immediately.

The DPO said Torghar was highly sensitive as terrorists used to cross over to Hazara from Malakand division.

`Now we`ve plugged frequent and infrequent routes of terrorists. We cannot leave our checkposts unmanned,` he said.

MAN, SON KILLED: A man was killed along with minor son allegedly by his brother over a family dispute in Puttan area of Lower Kohistan on Wednesday.

The police said Ahmad Ali had allegedly gunned down his brother Soda Ali and nephew Abu Zar, 10, over a family issue.

They said the alleged attacker fled by the killing.

The police said they had begun raids to arrest the suspect after registering the case.

In another incident in the day, a man was killed in Lower Ranowlia area of Lower Kohistan.

The police said Hazrat Ali was killed and Jehanzeb was seriously injured by unidentified gunmen.

They said they had begun investigation after registering the case.

However, no arrest was made by night.