Mother of ASI killed in home invasion

Armed men attacked the home of ASI Maghrib Afridi in Akka Khel, Khyber district of KhyberPakhtunkhwa on Tuesday, killing his mother and critically injuring him and another woman. Maghrib Afridi is a police officer posted at the local Mewod police station.

The attackers fled the scene, but one was killed in the return firing. The injured were taken to a local hospital before being transferred to Peshawar for treatment. An investigation has been launched to determine whether the attack was motivated by personal reasons or terrorism.

Police reached the spot soon after the attack and cordoned off the entire locality. “The slain attacker has been identified as Akhtar Jan, a resident of the same Akka Khel locality, while the other managed to escape,” a police official said, adding that the injured were rushed to a local hospital but later shifted to Peshawar for treatment.

Investigation has been launched in the attack but an FIR was yet to be registered in the case as police said that further investigation was required to ascertain whether it was a case of personal feud or terrorism.

Toll plaza attacked in DI Khan In a separate incident, terrorists attacked the Yark Toll Plaza in DI Khan district of K-P, stealing Rs1 million at gunpoint after taking the staff hostage. This is the third attack of its kind in the past few months, with millions being stolen in the previous two raids.

The police believe that terrorists are involved in the incident and have cordoned off the area but have not yet apprehended the attackers. Police said that around 15 armed men entered the toll plaza during the night and collected all the cash after making the staff hostage.

“This is the third attack of its kind in the past few months as in the previous two raids they also collected millions and fled,” said a police official, adding that police reached the spot and cordoned off the locality but the attackers managed to escape after committing the crime.

“This is no ordinary robbery case as terrorists are involved in the attack,” he observed. Registering an FIR with police, complainant Bilawaludin Jatoi stated that he had slept on the roof of the plaza when guard Muhammad Osman came to him in a hurry, telling him that around 15 men, who were armed with AK-47s, had stormed the plaza and collected all the cash at gunpoint. He stated that after taking the money, they made good their escape.

Since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 and the release of TTP terrorists from prisons, there has been an increase in terrorism incidents across K-P and the tribal districts. Police have been the primary targets of these attacks, with Peshawar, Lakki Marwat, DI Khan, Bannu, North and South Waziristan being among the worst-affected districts. The annexation of Afghanistan by Taliban has provided the TTP with an opportunity to operate with impunity.