Cop shot dead with friend in Lakki ambush
PHOTO: FILE
A police constable along with his friend was gunned down by unidentified miscreants in yet another attack in Lakki Marwat district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) on Friday.
Police told The Express Tribune that terrorists opened fire at a police constable who was riding a bike along with his friend, as a result both died on the spot.
They were rushed to the nearby hospital where they were pronounced dead on arrival.
The attackers once again made good their escape after committing the crime in broad daylight.
“The incident took place at Paharpur Thal and caused widespread panic. A large contingent of police reached the area and carried out a door-to-door search operation but the attackers had managed to escape,” said a police official.
This is the second attack on police in less than 24 hours.
TTP claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement sent to media houses and said that the weapons of both the men were also taken away.
On Thursday night terrorists attacked a police post in Lakki Marwat. The attack was repulsed but terrorists then ambushed a police vehicle which was sent as reinforcement to the police station.
As a result Additional SHO Shadi Khel Habibullah was seriously injured and a Constable Samiullah was injured.
The attackers also escaped after the ambush.
In separate incident a traffic warden was injured when unidentified men fired at him near bus stand.
Thermal weapons sights
Inspector General Police has ordered immediate supply of thermal weapon sights to police force in several districts after it became clear that terrorists were using night vision goggles to target police during its attacks at police posts.
“Around 11 sights have been provided to Dera Ismail Khan police, eight to Tank police, two to South Waziristan, nine to Bannu and 10 sights to Lakki police,” said an official of police, adding that it would enable police to better respond to night attacks.
Recently militants released a video footage in which a sniper attacked policemen with the help of thermal imaging sights inside a police station. Probably terrorists had secured a rooftop position before the attack. The attack was repulsed but as a result of the snipping activity, police lost several men apparently.
Police said that terrorists were using thermal sights as force multiplier in their attacks at police and now police has been equipped with the same sight.
“Terrorists are using world-class made-in-USA thermal military sights which are the finest any one could find on the international market,” said a police official, adding that because of this they are able to mount surprisingly effective attacks.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2023.