Under fire: One policeman killed, one injured

Unidentified assailants opened fire, officers say attempted targeted killing

PESHAWAR: One policeman was killed while another was critically injured when unidentified assailants opened fire on a rider squad on Ring Road within the jurisdiction of Banamarhi police station Saturday afternoon. The assailants attacked the two policemen near the overhead bridge on Kohat Road.

Banamarhi DSP Shaukat Ali told The Express Tribune constables Sifatullah and Gul Wali were critically injured in the attack. They were rushed to Lady Reading Hospital following the incident. However, Constable Sifatullah succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

“The deceased and the injured are part of the police rider squad and were patrolling the area on a bike,” he said. The injured constable Gul Wali is a special police officer (SPO), who had been recruited on a two-year contract to help overcome the shortage of police personnel in the area.

“A 9mm pistol was used in the attack and the officials were targeted,” said a police official while talking to The Express Tribune.

The assailants managed to flee after committing the crime. He said a search operation has been launched in the area and several arrests were made soon after the attack. Further investigation is under way.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2016.