PESHAWAR, June 24: Three of the five bodies of suspected militants recovered by police after an encounter at Sarband in the suburbs of Peshawar were identified and handed over to the relatives on Friday, officials said.

They said that the militants were killed in encounter following a midnight attack on Manzoor Shaheed police post in the limits of Sarband police station three days ago.

Sarband SHO Abidur Rehman said that three of the suspected terrorists had been identified as Jamil and Shakeel of Shalbar and Gulab of Sipah sub-tribe of Afridi tribe.

He said that the other two bodies had been handed over to the Khasadar Force of Bara tehsil, but their identity was yet to be ascertained.

Referring to the statements of the heirs, the SHO claimed that those killed were associated with Mangal Bagh-led Lashkar-i-Islam in Khyber Agency and had no links with their families since long. “We have been in contact with the line officer of Khasadar Force of Bara to ascertain the identity of the two bodies,” the official said.

The official said he was optimistic about a positive change in the law and order situation at the border area of Sarband, located close to the Khyber Agency.

Mr Rehman said that police had blocked entry of terrorists into Peshawar’s main areas and the people would feel some sort of peace in days to come.

“Since the encounter no militant has dared to enter the area,” he claimed and added that police were regularly patrolling the roads to check the suspected people and vehicles.

Another official of the rural circle said that the LI had close contacts with people in the suburban localities, who were providing it information about movement of the law enforcers.

Meanwhile, the Bala Manai police have found body of an unidentified young man on Ring Road, who was apparently hit by a vehicle.

“We have shifted the body to a local mortuary and are trying to locate his relatives,” the police said.