PESHAWAR: Two levies personnel were killed and more than 22 others are missing since the early hours of Thursday after militants launched a massive assault on three checkposts on the outskirts of Peshawar, official sources told Dawn.Com.

The militants destroyed two checkposts and also took away weapons, a double cabin pick-up, besides setting a vehicle ablaze.

More than 100 levies personnel had been deployed at the three checkposts and about 22 have not reported back and its feared they had been kidnapped along with their weapons.

Sources said that heavily armed militants attacked the Zaray, Zarka Kohi Hassankhel and Ghaki Sar checkposts between 01:50 am to 02:45 am on Thursday, ransacking two posts and blowing up one completely.

Militants attacked the Zaray levy checkpost at about 01:50 am. The exchange of fire continued for many hours which resulted in the deaths of two levies personnel, while one other was injured in the attack, officials said.

The officials also said that about 60 soldiers were deployed at the checkpost.

The second attack was launched on the Zarka Kohi Hassankhel checkpost at about 2:15 am. The militants destroyed the building after overpowering the security personnel following a gun-battle that lasted for an hour.

Besides bombing the building, the militants set ablaze a vehicle and took away another double cabin pickup along with ammunition at the checkpost.

The third attack according to the official sources was launched at about 2:45 am at Ghaki Sar checkpost in Musa Darra area of Peshawar.

At least 15 to 20 levies personnel were deployed at the checkpost, who retaliated after being attacked. No casualties were reported as the militants fled the scene.