Two cops martyred in TTP-led terrorist attack
Three police officials were also injured during the suicide attack in Jamrud. PHOTO: EXPRESS
Two police officials have lost their lives while three others sustained injuries in a terrorist attack led by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on a security check post of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (K-P) Khyber district.
As per preliminary details, armed militants, including a suspected suicide bomber, carried out the attack on security check post, police officials said on Thursday.
The martyred policemen were identified as Manzoor and Younas.
According to District Police Officer (DPO) Imran Khan, the terrorist activity took place at the Takhta Baig checkpost in the district's Jamrud area during which the attackers also used hand grenades and also opened gunfire.
He said that a large contingent of police reached the area as soon as information about the incident was received. Imran said that the police killed the attackers and cordoned off the area.
Khan further said that there were conflicting reports about the attack as the operation against the terrorists was ongoing, adding that further details would be shared with the media soon.
Meanwhile, the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack.
On the other hand, TTP militants attacked the police vehicles with rocket launchers in Lakki Marwat area of Ahsanpur.
According to the details, the local police and security forces started a search operation in the area of Ahsanpur, two kilometers away from the city of Lakki Marwat, after receiving information about the presence of a group of unknown armed men.Meanwhile, unknown armed persons took shelter in the nearby forest. Police and security forces set the forest on fire.
During the clash between militants and security forces, the police vehicle got burnt due to fire. However, no casualties were reported.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has accepted responsibility for the incident and said that three police vehicles were targeted, in which the occupants were killed and injured.
However, when contacted, Lucky Marwat Police Spokesman Shahid Hameed said that there was no report of any casualty.
The banned outfit has stepped up attacks since it announced the end of an Afghan Taliban-brokered ceasefire with the Pakistan government last month.
On January 14, three police personnel, including a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), were martyred in a late-night terrorist attack on the Sarband Police Station in Peshawar,
Inspector General (IG) of the K-P police Moazzam Jah Ansari while talking to the media today, said that the police "bravely repulsed the terrorist attack".
The three martyred policemen included K-P Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sardar Hussain and his two police guards identified as Irshad and Jehanzeb.
Police officials were also martyred during attacks in Bannu and Lakki Marwat as well.