PESHAWAR, Jan 14: Four militants, involved in attack on Riaz Shaheed police post in Surband on Thursday night, were arrested during a search operation in the area, sources said.

Three security personnel were killed in the attack on police post. Several new pickets were set up in the area to counter any fresh assault from Bara side of Khyber Agency, sources added.

An official said that several suspected persons were taken into custody during a search operation in the area. 'Four of the arrested persons were involved in the attack on police,' he added.

The official said that main reason of the killing of policemen in the attack was negligence on the part of the station house officer concerned as he failed to timely get proper report about presence of militants in the area.

It was learnt that police would hold inquiry into the incident as to why the high-ups were not informed timely about the factual position.

The official said that no one could tell the exact number of attackers but it was sure that most of them were riding motorcycles. The police post was re-established but it was again under threat, headded.

The SHO concerned, Rehmat Khan, however, denied negligence on his part and said that 60 security personnel could not fight hundreds of militants, who had entered the area from different directions.

'We have heavy weapons but militants also have the same arms and ammunitions including night vision devices,' he said and suggested that in such conditions only helicopters could prove helpful.

Cantonment Circle Superintendent of Police Dr Mian Saeed Ahmed, when contacted, said that police had taken positions at all sensitive spots and in case of any attack militants would have to face the music.

'We are in the position to strike back,' he said. He added that police had searched the entire area. Militants abandoned a building probably used as seminary in the past, he said, adding it was under the control of police now.

Two of the seven militants killed during the attack on the police checkpost in Sarband, on the suburbs of Peshawar, have been identified as commanders of Khyber Agency-basedLashkar-i-Islam.

The SP said that one of the injured militant commanders was Asghar Khan, commonly known as Asgharay of Malakdin Khel clan of Afridi tribe. He was a sharp shooter and also skilled in preparation and explosion of locally made bombs.

'He got training in Afghanistan and Waziristan Agency and also sustained injuries in at least five encounters with law enforcement agencies,' the SP said.

The militant commander had been assigned a duty to impart training to young militants, however, the recent attack proved to be his last assault on police and he succumbed to his wounds while his accomplices were shifting him on shoulders.

The other commander was identified as Qari Wahid of Zakhakhel tribe. He was also know as sniper and always played significant role in attacks on police, snatching of vehicles and kidnapping of people from the settled areas.

The injured militants, the official said, were under treatment at a secret place and some of them were stated to be in critical condition.