Wave of militancy: Cop injured in roadside blast

At least four policemen were travelling when the van was hit by blast

MINGORA: A policeman was injured in a roadside blast on the border of Swat and Buner districts on Monday.

An official of Ghalagay police station told The Express Tribune a police van was patrolling in Barikot tehsil of Swat when a remote-controlled bomb went off that was planted on the main road leading to Buner went off.

While briefing journalists about the attack, DSP Syed Zaman Shah said the bomb was planted on the border area of Karakar between Swat and Buner districts.

“At least four police personnel, including ASI Wakeel Muhammad, two constables Niaz Muhammad and Nisar Khan and van driver Muzammil Shah were travelling by the time when the van was hit by the blast,” he added.

The DSP said all four policemen remained unhurt in the attack, except for Muzammil Shah, who were injured of minor nature.

“Muzammil Shah is in stable condition and performing his duties,” he maintained. Soon after the blast police and other law-enforcement agencies rushed to the spot, cordoned off the area and started a search operation to nab the culprits.

On Thursday, at least seven police officials were injured when a roadside bomb targeting a Rapid Response Force (RRF) van, exploded at Warsak Road, near Darmangi Village. Last week, unidentified gunmen killed an additional SHO in Adina village, Swabi.

According to police officials, terrorist attacks have resulted in the maximum number of deaths of the police as well as of civilians this year. From January 2016 to June 2016, the police casualty figure was 29 dead and 44 injured this year, while corresponding number for the same period in 2015 was 19 dead and 38 injured.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2016.