TIMERGARA, Sept 2: A policeman was killed and four others sustained injuries when their vehicle came under attack at Bazarak Khwar near Afghan refugees’ camp in Lower Dir on Saturday night.

Sources said that police were on routine patrol in Jandol area on Sunday night. Their van was attacked by unidentified militants when they were coming back to Timergara after finishing the patrol duty, they added.

Sources said that constable Ikram Hussain, 22, was killed in the attack while four of his colleagues identified as Nizamud Din, Sajad Ahmad, Mohammad Ali Shah and Samiullah, driver of the van, were injured.

The injured were rushed to district headquarters hospital in Timergara from where two of them were referred to Peshawar in critical condition.

Police and security forces cordoned off the area after the incident, however, the attackers managed to escape unhurt, sources said, adding that nine suspects, most of them Afghan refugees, were taken into custody by Munda police on Sunday for interrogation.

It was the third attack on police in Jandol area during the last three months. In the past, two policemen were killed by unidentified militants when they were patrolling Munda Bazaar while another constable was shot dead during the month of Ramazan.

Meanwhile, authorities of security forces in the area convened a meeting of local elders and asked them to help law enforcement agencies in identifying the attackers.

The deceased constable Ikram Hussain was later laid to rest at Nagri Talash village with official honour. Senior police officers, social and political activists and a large number of local people attended his funeral prayers.