Militants have recently increased attacks against law enforcement across the province. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD SAQIB/FILE
MARDAN:
A police official was killed when unidentified militants opened fire at two policemen near Mayar Road, Mardan on Wednesday.
According to Syed Malook of the Par Hoti police, Constable Amjad Khan reported to the police station at 12pm that he along with Constable Tariq was on the way to the police station after performing their duty on Mayar Road when they received a report of a gambling den at a roadside a kilometre away.
Amjad said they rushed towards the site, but three unidentified masked men travelling on a motorcycle intercepted them and opened fire, injuring Tariq severely.
Amjad fired at the assailants in response and informed the police headquarters, asking for assistance, Malook said, adding heavy contingents of police rushed to the site and began a search for the suspected militants. However, they had escaped and left their motorcycle behind.
Malook said the injured policeman Tariq had been shot multiple times and succumbed to his injuries on the way to a hospital. After autopsy, the body was taken to police lines for funeral prayers and then shifted to his hometown of Katlang for burial.
Militants have recently increased attacks against law enforcement across the province.
On June 21, Assistant Sub Inspector Amir Rangzeb was shot and killed by unidentified men in Buner district. Similarly, two police constables were gunned down in the Pishtakhara police station’s jurisdiction on July 1. Finally, on July 5, Head Constable Shehzad Gul was shot outside Assembly of God Church in Umidabad. Speaking at Gul’s funeral, IGP Ihsan Ghani said the police force would restore peace in spite of these assaults.
The police are being targeted in particular over the last few days but the force will never turn its back to growing threats,” IGP Ghani said, adding “It will carry on operations to dismantle terrorist organisations.”
“These attacks will never dampen the spirits of our jawans, but will further strengthen our courage to eliminate militants,” the IGP said.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 11th, 2013.
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A number of precedents show that how powerful rigorous groups managed the release of militants who were involved in target killings from law courts in KPK despite the availability of sufficient material and circumstantial evidence.