Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Inspector General of Police (IGP) Zulfiqar Hameed on Thursday said three police officials were martyred and several were injured as the force thwarted a “severe three-pronged terrorist attack” in Lower Dir on Wednesday.
“At least three cops were martyred, and several others were injured during the terrorist attack that occurred during a combing operation in the area. This was an extensive search and strike operation of police, wherein special teams searched and cleared three valleys,” said Hameed while addressing a press conference in the Lower Dir District Police Office.
Sharing the details of the operation, Hameed said that the terrorists suffered heavy losses during a “search and strike” combing operation. “Special teams had inflicted heavy losses on the terrorists, as indicated by eyewitness accounts and photographic evidence available to the police,” said Hameed.
The IGP added that he was proud of the teams for fighting courageously and repelling the three-pronged attack despite being outnumbered.
“The district police officer, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) superintendent of police and others extracted the police party ambushed by terrorists,” he said.
Hameed further added that the condition of the injured personnel was improving, and most officers were expected to be discharged soon from the hospital.
The IGP reiterated the resolve to uproot terrorism, saying, “The war that is being waged against us and is injuring and martyring our people will not affect the determination of the police or other security institutions, and we will continue to protect areas under our jurisdiction.”
“Those trying to pose a threat to us will be neutralised,” the police chief warned during the presser.
To address the threat of terrorism in the region, he said, a meeting would be convened to strategise the complete restoration of peace, and all resources would be directed towards the cause.
Hameed rebuked claims of a weakened writ of government in most areas of the province.
Outlining the measures undertaken to enhance police capacity, he said that the measures were underway to enhance the operational capacity of the police force.
He said more than Rs70 million were earmarked in the budget for the procurement of modern equipment for police, apart from other “substantial” allocations.
The IGP warned that hostile elements disseminate a false narrative to instil discontent and fear among people.
“They [terrorists] should know that we will not be driven by fear. This is our province, and we will not let peace be marred in this region,” he said.
The police chief highlighted that the police and other security institutions never back down from offering sacrifices to uphold peace, reminding that a year ago, the threat from hostile elements was quashed, and history would repeat itself once again.
Speaking on the issue of extortion, Hameed said special cells had been established to stop the menace, saying that cooperation was being sought from the foreign office to trace extortion calls originating from abroad.
Separately, a police official was martyred while six security personnel and four civilians were injured after terrorists attacked a police station in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu, police said on Thursday.
On Wednesday night, attackers had attempted to ram a vehicle loaded with explosives into Miryan Police Station, triggering a powerful blast, which was followed by a prolonged exchange of fire between the terrorists and police personnel.
According to police, the terrorists attempted to storm the police station immediately after the attack. However, police and security forces responded promptly, successfully foiling their plans.
Police official Noor Jamal Khan, who was critically injured in the attack, succumbed to his injuries, Bannu police said in an official statement on Thursday. Six security personnel and four civilians remain under treatment for their injuries, the statement added.
The statement said the intense exchange of fire following the attempted attack had resulted in several casualties among the terrorists. The statement, which did not specify the number of injured and killed terrorists, added that some of the terrorists also managed to flee under the cover of darkness.
The funeral prayers for the martyred police official, Jamal, were offered with full official honours at the Bannu Police Lines. The funeral was attended by Bannu District Police Officer (DPO) Furqan Bilal, Regional Police Officer (RPO) Rabnawaz Khan and senior police officers.