Another cop martyred in Bajaur ambush

Constable Amin targeted in Salarzai tehsil

BAJAUR:

Yet another police constable was martyred in the Bajaur tribal district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday.

Police told The Express Tribune that unidentified terrorists opened fire at Constable Fazal Amin, killing him on the spot. The attackers managed to escape after committing the crime.

“Constable Fazal Amin was targeted in Batmali area of Salarzai Tehsil of Bajaur,” said a police official, adding that the slain constable was a resident of the same Batmali village.

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

“This incident is a deliberate and targeted attack, with the police constable being the intended victim. There is no doubt that this is an act of terrorism,” stated the official. The body has been sent for autopsy, and the police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the unidentified assailants.

In a separate attack a local resident was gunned down in a crowded bazaar in the Inayat Kalay area of Bajaur.

Police said that the victim has been identified as Roohullah, resident of Mamond. The attackers made good their escape after committing the crime.

Police launched investigation in the case after registering an FIR.

Lawlessness has gripped several tribal and non-tribal districts in recent years including Bajaur.

Security forces and police are the primary target of terror attacks across the district along with local clerics.

Tens of thousands of tribesmen took to the streets on Saturday, staging a protest demonstration against the brutal murder of a local cleric in Bajaur.

The protesters marched from Bajaur Press Club to Khar Chowk, chanting slogans against the district administration for its failure to ensure the security of local clerics.

The incident occurred on Thursday when unidentified individuals opened fire on a motor car in Inayat Kalay, resulting in the cold-blooded murder of Maulana Noor Muhammad and his brother Zubair. Qari Siraj, another individual present in the car, sustained serious injuries and was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. All the victims and injured individuals are residents of the Dama Dola area of Bajaur.

The Bajaur Aman Action Committee had called for the protest demonstration in response to the attack, drawing participation from people representing various walks of life, including politicians from different political parties.

During the protest, speakers highlighted the escalating lawlessness prevailing throughout the district, which has largely gone unnoticed by the relevant authorities. They emphasized that Maulana Noor Muhammad and his brother were targeted in broad daylight, in a crowded marketplace in Inayat Kalay, while the attackers managed to escape without apprehension. The speakers further pointed out that incidents of extortion, targeted attacks, and bomb blasts were increasingly occurring with each passing day, while the provincial government, police, and district administration failed to effectively address these issues.

The speakers also raised concerns about the district’s vulnerability to another wave of militancy, reminiscent of the past when thousands of families were displaced and the local economy suffered severe damage.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 26^th, 2023.