SHO's killing sparks concern over rise in terrorist attacks in K-P

SHO Shakeel Khan targeted on his way to police station by assailants travelling in a car as opposed to motorcycles

PESHAWAR:

Terrorist activities were feared to once again be on the rise in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa after unidentified terrorists opened fire and killed the station house officer (SHO) of the Shahpur police station on the motorway bridge in Chamkani, Peshawar.

SHO Shakeel Khan was on his way to the police station when his vehicle was targeted by terrorists just a short distance away from it.

The SHO was alone in his car when the attackers began chasing him.

According to Peshawar Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Ijaz Khan, the assailants were not motorcyclists but came in a white car, got out of the vehicle with Kalashnikovs and 9mm pistols and attacked the SHO's vehicle.

SHO Shakeel was killed on the spot, more than ten Zeiss bullets were fired at the vehicle whose shells were found in the attack.

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On Tuesday, another similar major attack took place in Peshawar Sarki Gate in the inner city area within the limits of Yakatoot police station where an inspector of Intelligence Bureau (IB) was killed and two other IB personnel were injured.

Unidentified gunmen opened fire on the vehicle of the intelligence personnel near the gate of the police station. The assistant sub-inspector along with his brother were critically injured and rushed to the hospital.

After collecting CCTV footage, empty shells and other evidence from the location, a case was registered against unidentified assailants at the Counter-Terrorism Department police station.

According to police, Inspector Najeeb, Assistant Sub-Inspector Amanullah, his brother Junaid Khan and his other sister-in-law were present in the vehicle when the unidentified gunmen opened indiscriminate fire on them from inside their vehicle.

Amanullah and Junaid were critically injured and were rushed to the hospital in critical condition where Inspector Najeeb succumbed to his injuries. The other inspectors are currently under treatment and their condition is reported to be out of danger.

The accused managed to escape from the scene after committing the crime.

After the incident, a large contingent of local police, Counter-Terrorism Department Police and intelligence personnel reached the spot and cordoned off the area and launched a search-and-rescue operation.

No arrests have been made so far, according to police.

Attacks on Sikh community

At least 48 hours before this incident, two shopkeepers from the Sikh community in Sarband area, on the outskirts of Peshawar, were shot dead by terrorists on motorcycles in Battatil Bazaar.

The shopkeepers belonged to Mohalla Jogan Shah area of ​​Peshawar.

After the incident, the Sikh community of Peshawar staged a protest rally from Dabgri Gurdwara. Many Sikhs participated in the protest and closed Hashtnagri Road in Peshawar for three hours, and called on the government to provide security to the Sikhs and take steps to prevent targeted killings.

Sikh community leader Dr Sahib Singh while talking to The Express Tribune said that the incident that took place in Battatil Bazaar was very tragic and that both the victims were from poor families.

Dr Sahib Singh further added that a few months ago, gold medalist Dr Satnam Singh was also targeted in Peshawar. However, his family did not receive any monetary package.

On September 30 last year, unidentified assailants shot dead Dr Satnam Singh a hakim (physician) belonging to the Sikh community on Charsadda road.

According to the police, the attackers barged into the clinic of Satnam Singh and shot at him four times. He was rushed to the provincial capital's Lady Reading Hospital in an injured condition where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Baba Gurpal, a Sikh social leader in Peshawar, told The Express Tribune that for the past 20 years, Satnam Singh's clinic had been located on Charsadda Road, which was one of the few famous and able sages of the Sikh community.

“We were shocked by this incident. We hope the accused will be arrested soon. Police are cooperating a lot,” Baba Gurpal stated.

Recent terrorist incidents

According to the Counter-Terrorism Department 177 attacks have been reported in K-P from December 2021 to May 17, 2022.

These include 142 incidents of terrorism including suicide attacks, remote controlled attacks, grenade attacks, rocket launchers, attacks on check posts, firing by terrorists and other acts of terrorism.

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During these five months alone, 35 incidents of targeted killings have been reported in the province, of which a total of 51 law enforcement personnel and officers were martyred in these incidents of terrorism recorded by the CTD.

Simultaneously, 46 people belonging to other government departments including police, CTD, excise, IB, and the special branch have also been martyred.

As of May this year, 1,156 small and large intelligence-based operations were carried out across the province, including at the Afghan border.

A large quantity of ammunition, suicide jackets were recovered and a total of 240 terrorists were arrested in these operations, said Inspector General of Police K-P Moazzam Jahan Ansari.