Banned outfit: ‘Wanted commander’ killed in encounter

MANSEHRA: An outlawed outfit’s local leader was killed in a police encounter near Battagram late Saturday night, a senior police official said on Sunday.

The militant was carrying a bounty of Rs1 million on his head, the police official said.

The encounter took place at an exit point near Battagram off Torghar Road after three militants carried out an attack on a police check post. A police constable was killed in the attack and another was injured.

The deceased policeman was later identified as Qabil Jan, while his injured colleague was identified as Ahmed Hussain. District Police Officer (DPO) of Battagram Raja Saboor Khan told The Express Tribune that the two law enforcement officers worked in Chanjal police station.

After a five-hour-long chase, a police unit managed to pin the militants down near Barsar Hill, close to both Battagram and Torghar, the DPO said.

The leader of the attackers was later identified by police as ‘Commander’ Hafiz Nisar. One of his accomplices, Said Gula, was arrested in an injured condition while their third accomplice managed to escape.

The DPO said that Nisar lived in Torghar district and was wanted by KP police in connection with several terrorism-related cases, including attacks on police and security forces in different parts of Hazara and elsewhere in the province.

The militant leader had allegedly visited Said Gula’s home near Barsar Hill before attacking the police check post, the DPO said.

The injured extremist and police constable were later moved to Ayub Teaching Hospital.

The CTD Abbottabad has registered a case against the extremist leader and his accomplices, the DPO said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 11^th, 2016.