Police in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa came under militant attack in Lakki Marwat, leading to fierce exchange of fire that resulted in the martyrdom of at least four policemen and injuries to as many, officials said on Sunday.
Local police officials said that militants attacked the Bargai police station early in the morning with rockets and grenades. “There was a fierce exchange of fire between the police and terrorists. The attackers threw hand grenades and fired rockets toward the police station,” a police official said.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, because he was not authorities to speak to the media, the official said that four policemen embraced martyrdom. The assailants fled the scene because of the heavy police fire. He added that heavy contingents of police reached the spot and started a search operation.
Police Spokesperson Shahid Hameed said that unidentified armed men attacked the Bargai police station with light to heavy weapons from two sides. The police personnel present at the police station retaliated and fought off the attackers,” he added.
Hameed identified the martyred police officials as Constable Imran, Constable Khairul Amin, Mohharr Ibrahim and Constable Sabz Ali. The injured were Assistant Sub-Inspector Gul Sahib Khan, Constable Balqyaz Khan, Constable Amir Nawaz and Farmanullah, he added.
Later in the day, the funeral prayers for the martyred were offered at the Lakki Police Line, where Regional Police Officer (RPO) Bannu Syed Ashfaq Anwar, District Police Officer (DPO) Ziauddin, senior military and civil officials were in attendance.
Meanwhile, President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Shehbaz Shairf, K-P Chief Minister Mehmood Khan and former president Asif Zardari condemned the terrorist attack in Lakki Marwat. They sent their condolences to the families of the martyrs and prayed for the early recovery of the injured.
“Our efforts will continue until the complete elimination of the remnants of terrorism," President Alvi said in a statement. The entire nation saluted the huge sacrifices of police officers in their fight against terrorism,” added Prime Minister Shehbaz in a separate statement.
“Those who have been shielding the nation against terrorists are our heroes,” said the statement issued from the Prime Minister Office Media Wing. The prime minister urged the K-P government to announce the Shuhada package for the families of the martyred police personnel.
While condemning the attack, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan sought a report from the inspector general of the K-P police. “Sacrifices of the martyrs will not go in vain," the chief minister said in his statement. He instructed officials to provide the best medical treatment to the injured policemen.
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