Two policemen killed as Taliban militants take hostages in northwest Pakistan
The Hindu
Militants have demanded the security forces to provide them with a helicopter to reach Afghanistan safely.
At least two policemen were killed and many others injured when Pakistani Taliban militants seized a counter-terrorism centre and took some people hostage in the Bannu district of Pakistan's troubled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
One of the militants, who had been arrested and being interrogated at Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) police station inside the cantonment, on Sunday snatched an AK-47 from the police and opened fire.
He then freed other suspects being held at the building who took control of the compound. They also took several policemen hostage.
The situation is still tense 17 hours after the incident as a military operation is going on.
Two policemen were killed in the shooting, sources said.
Akram Khan Durrani, a former Chief Minister of the province, and sitting provincial minister Malik Shah Muhammad have reached Bannu to initiate talks with the militants.
Both Mr. Durrani and Mr. Muhammad hail from Bannu.
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