FIREFIGHT Police constable, one attacker killed

SWABI: Heavily armed militants ambushed a police van in the Manai area on Saturday, killing a police constable and one of the attackers.

One of the attackers, who had taken refuge in a nearby shop, held hostages and was surrounded by policemen till the filing of this report.

Police officials said that the police mobile van was on a routine patrol when it came under attack.

Two attackers hurled a hand grenade at the police which prompted heavy firing. One of the attackers was killed during the exchange of fire while a policeman, identified as constable Shah Fahad, was critically injured and later succumbed to injuries.

The second attacker, who entered the shop on the main road near the bus stop in the area, took three hostages— a shopkeeper and two minors—PRO Swabi police confirmed.

All hostages had been freed unhurt. “It is believed that the attackers were on a suicide mission as the one still alive has heavy weapons on him and has hurled a few hand grenades at the policemen that have surrounded him,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2016.