Two martyred as militants seize CTD facility in Bannu

15 attackers take policemen hostages, demand passage to Afghanistan

BANNU:

At least two Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) officials were martyred and many more injured after a militant overpowered interrogators, snatched an AK-47 rifle and opened fire inside the CTD police station in Bannu district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday afternoon, police said.

The Bannu district police officer told The Express Tribune that the militant also freed other suspects being held in the building and they took control of the compound, taking several policemen hostage. The authorities later cordoned off the entire Bannu cantonment, he added.

“There was no attack from outside. One of the miscreants snatched rifle from police during interrogation and neutralised the guards deployed at the building. He then freed all the suspects being held at the building and who took control of the compound, DPO Bannu Dr Iqbal told The Express Tribune.

“They have also taken several policemen hostage. They are in control of the building and we have cordoned off the entire Bannu cantonment. They have been kept busy by means of negotiations,” the DPO added. “We have our own plan which cannot be shared with the media at the moment.”

In the meanwhile, militants purportedly released at least three videos in which they could be seen armed with AK-47 rifles and medium machine guns. In one video they showed a hostage and demanded of the security forces to provide them with a helicopter to reach Afghanistan safely. The videos could not be verified.

Earlier, two police officials, while speaking on condition of anonymity, said that about 15 militants took control of the centre after overpowering their interrogators inside, grabbing their weapons and taking five or six of them hostage, adding that the terrorists were looking to negotiate for safe passage to Afghanistan.

In Peshawar, K-P government officials said that the situation was under complete control and efforts were being made to foil the evil intentions of the criminals. “There has been no infiltration in Bannu Cantonment,” a K-P government spokesperson said.

Under interrogation militants snatched weapons from the interrogators and released more prisoners, who have all been surrounded. An operation was under way against the miscreants which would be completed soon, Special Assistant to K-P Chief Minister for Information Barrister Saif said.

(WITH INPUT FROM REUTERS)