Cop killed in Mardan targeted attack

Four Frontier Constabulary men injured in Khyber grenade attack

BARA/ MARDAN:

Attacks at law enforcement agencies continue unabated across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) as on Tuesday a head constable of police was shot dead in Mardan while four Frontier Constabulary (FC) men were injured in a hand grenade attack at their post in Bara, Khyber tribal district.

Police told The Express Tribune that head constable Hayat Zaman was gunned down in the jurisdiction area of Shahbaz Ghari police station and he was on leave from duty.

“Hayat was a resident of Bala Ghari and was posted at police post Berwach. His brother lodged an FIR with police, stating that they have no enmity with anyone and this was a terrorism case,” said a police official.

“There was a wedding in the family and he was distributing cards so he was out on his bike for the purpose and miscreants targeted him,” he maintained.

An FIR has been registered in the case and police opened investigation in the case.

In a separate incident, four FC men were injured when their post was attacked with a hand grenade in Bara around midnight.

Police said that the grenade exploded inside the post as a result Rahim Khan, Ghulam Hussain, Zahid Muhammad and Muhammad Rashid were injured who were rushed to hospital.

The attackers managed to escape after committing the crime.

On Monday a police constable was gunned down in Kulachi, DI Khan district while guarding the residence of an MPA and another constable was killed when he tried to stop a motorcar for checking in Momond, Bajaur tribal district. The attack left one policeman injured.

On Sunday evening an IB sub-inspector was killed inside a mosque by unidentified attackers. Two worshipers were also injured in the firing.

In all the cases the attackers managed to escape successfully taking full advantage of the confusion caused by the firing.

Meanwhile deputy commissioner Khyber has imposed a ban on pillion riding in Tirah valley of Khyber district due to the deteriorating law and order situation in the area.

There are widespread reports that armed men patrol parts of Khyber and its villages bordering with Peshawar after nightfall. This has caused panic among the local residents who fear return of violence to the area.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 28^th, 2022.