At least four policemen, including a station house officer (SHO), were martyred on Wednesday as armed militants attacked a police party during a search operation in Wanda Budh, the police spokesperson said.
According to the police spokesperson, the search operation was being conducted in the jurisdiction of Shaheed Nawab police station following intelligence reports about militant presence in the area.
During the operation, militants suddenly opened fire on the police party, prompting the officers to return fire, he added.
The officers who lost their lives included SHO Faheem Mumtaz, Constable Irfan Khan, Constable Ghulam Subhani, and Constable Wajahat, the spokesperson said.
He also added that Paharpur Circle Deputy Superintendent of Police Hafiz Adnan and Assistant Sub-Inspector Tariq were injured in the attack.
He said that the martyrs and the wounded officers were immediately shifted to the District Headquarters Teaching Hospital for treatment.
Following the incident, the spokesperson said, a heavy contingent of police, led by District Police Officer Sajad Ahmed Sahebzada, reached the scene and launched a search operation to apprehend the militants.
Meanwhile, KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi took notice of the incident and strongly condemned it. In a statement, he paid tribute to the sacrifices of the martyred personnel.
“The provincial government will provide all possible assistance to the affected families,” he said. He further said that the KP police were at the frontline in the fight against terrorism.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi expressed deep sorrow over the attack.
Separately, police killed three militants after repelling an overnight assault on a post in Bannu district, an official said on Wednesday.
Militants launched a heavy attack on the Khunia Khel police post during the night, according to Aamir Khan, spokesman for the Regional Police Officer in the district, trying to seize the facility. However, law enforcement personnel stationed there fought them off.
“The officers displayed exceptional valor and professionalism, putting up a fierce resistance against the terrorists and forcing them to retreat,” he told Arab News over the phone.
Khan said three militants were killed and nine others injured in the clash, while one police officer sustained minor injuries.
Police were working to establish the identities of the slain attackers in the remote region, he continued, adding that one of the militants had been identified as commander Umar Azam, also known as Khazmati, while another was identified as Shahidullah.
The identity of the third militant was still being determined.
Khan said militants later launched coordinated attacks on the Ahmadzai Police Station and the Fateh Khel police post in an apparent attempt to avenge the deaths of their associates.
Security personnel at both locations repelled the assaults, forcing the attackers to retreat, he added.