Police constable dies in DI Khan ambush

A police constable was martyred and three others sustained injuries when unidentified miscreants opened fire on a police mobile in DI Khan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) on Wednesday.

Police told The Express Tribune that in the jurisdiction area of Daraban Police Station a police team was providing security to census team in Kara Mastan when terrorists opened fire at the police vehicle.

“As a result three policemen including Constable Aftab Ahmad, Gul Faraz and Driver Sabir were injured. They were rushed to the nearby hospital where Constable Gul Faraz succumbed to his injuries,” said a police official, adding that the attackers once again managed to escape after committing the crime.

A large contingent of police reached the spot and started a door-to-door search operation but there was no sign of the attackers.

He said that the attack took place at a deserted place where terrorists had set an ambush.

“They fired at police and also threw hand grenade causing a confusion which helped the terrorists escape,” he said, adding that police registered an FIR and opened investigation in the case.

This is the second attack on DI Khan police this month. On March 4, terrorists had stormed a police post of Kulachi police station. The attackers had surrounded the post and fired three RPG-7 shoulder-fired rockets.

The exchange of fire continued for almost 45 minutes after which the terrorists fled.

Police said that a policeman Ihsanullah was injured in the attack who has been hospitalized. His condition is stated to be stable now.

Two labourers killed in blast

Two labourers were killed in a blast in an abandoned match factory in Hayatabad Industrial Estate.

Police told The Express Tribune that the factory was closed for at least eight years and recently it was leased by a local trader who assigned several labourers with the task of cleaning it.

“During the cleaning process suddenly a loud explosion occurred in which two labourers were seriously injured. They were rushed to the Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) where both of them succumbed to their injuries,” said a police official, adding that most probably the chemicals used in match-making caught fire and exploded.

“Highly inflammable chemicals had been left in the factory which caused the blast as probably these chemicals caught fire during cleaning and exploded. A BDU team has been called to inspect the site and give expert opinion,” he said, adding that it was really premature to jump to conclusion. “The BDU team would inspect the site for the presence of any explosives in the abandoned building. It is difficult to say whether it was a terrorist attack or not,” he said.