Suspected militants managed to free two of their accomplices from police custody after killing three policemen.
The two militants were brought to Khyber College of Dentistry for a medical examination, standard procedure for suspects arrested in several crimes, but were intercepted by others at the gate of University of Peshawar (UoP) campus.
The militants who were freed belong to Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and have been identified as Nadeem Abbas and Zaki. Both of them face several charges of terrorism. Officials said Abbas is a high-profile militant.
Sources said Abbas and Zaki were taken for dental checkup on a taxi and while the policemen were waiting to get a cab back at the main gate of the university campus, the militants approached them in two vehicles and escaped with their accomplices after shooting three policemen.
The dead police officers include Tariq, Hussain Jaffer and Rais.
Talking to reporters at the funeral of the slain cops, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Senior Minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour said the matter will be “thoroughly investigated”. Bilour said that it needs to be seen who the doctor was who referred such dangerous criminals for a checkup without the police and jail high-ups being informed.
City Police Chief Imtiaz Altaf while talking to reporters hinted at criminal connivance and negligence in the escape of the militants.
“The matter should have been brought to the attention of city police before the terrorists were taken outside the jail,” Altaf said. He said that the police as well as jail authorities could be involved in facilitating the escape so a judicial inquiry of the matter should be carried out.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 13th, 2011.
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Just 3 police men for High profile militants? Very sad. Bad show by police department.
And most of all how come the accomplices of the two find out that their most respected bosses would be taken for dental care...100 % inside job
The militants are better trained than police these days as they have a lot of training camps at their disposal in tribal areas where, I am sure, they get combat/hands-on training on weaponry, bombs etc (remember Osama's promotional videos). The training that our policemen get in the academy is limited to, most probably, running and doing push-ups.
@IlovePakistan Brother ET usually publishes false stories, it is not the first time.
The success of PML-N MNA Aqeel to get free from the plice and later free on bail has given another way to their terrrorist brotehrs. Now after following the Sunnah of PML-N (attacking the police, and SC) these attackers would not be identified and even if they are, the courts would release them. Sad to see the lowest paid foot pawns of police are suffering the most at the hands of terrorists. Police should be trained in regular warfare and not the low level training the get. How can they do the army's job with little salary and little training? I am no friend of police but let us be fair after so many deaths.
@Gul Khan I guess its the duty of police to harass diplomats and lose custody of terrorists, they are good for nothing else.
@Bangash: Shame on you. Three police died in the line of duty but you can only ridicule their sacrifice. Are you trying to show all the Indians who post here daily that this is the way we honour our heros? These criminals who killed the police were anti state actors who take money from our enemies to attack innocent Pakistanis. They are being beaten which is why they are desperate to recruit children and women.
@M.Akthar: Yes it is very sad that they lost their lives but they could have saved lives also if they were careful. This would have been much better for the country and their families.
Shame on the police for their performance. Were they sleeping or talking on mobile phones while taking the prisoners. It is true they only can harass innocent people. I also wanna say their way of driving on the roads these days is very bad. Unnecessary sirens and pushing people to get their way in a completely bad manner. They should learn from London Police as they controlled the riots without much weopens.
@Bangash Police is not harassing US diplomats, rather performing its duties.
Shouldnt have been taking them to the hospital!
arrest all polices, innocents and free all militants, they will fight and kill each other, some will die because of hunger, sick,, leaving innocents unhurted, then free all innocents.
Hey Bangash, 3 policemen lost lives! Just give them some respect for the dead men. Their children would be waiting at home expecting their dad to return home. Please think twice before. Am angry about the Pakistan Generals and Politicians, for their policies and selling off the nation, but its not about the common foot soldiers who work to make a living. Let`s honour the dead, & this is the least we can do!
@Bangash: They are at least good in one of their duties ... Doesn't matter if that's the only thing they are good in
Problem is not that the two guys were freed. Problem is that no one will do anything about it. There will be no changes in the protocol to take prisoners and no one will be moved. And this has not happened for the first time.
wow.... sharp shooters.... they killed three policemen and no bullet touched the militants?