3 cops martyred, 5 terrorists killed in Tank attack

New Police Lines building severely damaged in gunfight that continued for 14 hours

RAWALPINDI/ TANK:

At least three brave policemen embraced martyrdom and as many were injured while valiantly eliminating five terrorists who along with a suicide bomber attacked the Tank City Police Lines in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Friday.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), five terrorists, including a suicide bomber, “attempted to attack the Police Lines, however, brave policemen offered stiff resistance”.

According to details, the terrorists attacked the Police Lines with heavy weaponry, including hand grenades, at around 2:40am in the wee hours of Friday.

As soon as the attack was reported, Tank DPO Iftikhar Ali Shah along with DSP Alamgir and two other policemen entered the Police Lines and started exchanging fire with the terrorists. The gunfight continued for 14 hours, during which the Dera Ismail Khan Road was closed for traffic.

In the attack, three policemen, including constables Ehsanullah Abdul Rasheed and Gohar Zaman, embraced martyrdom while constables Sakhi Noor Gul, Ajmal and Mukhtiar were seriously injured. Five terrorists were also gunned down.

The injured were shifted to the hospital for medical assistance. The newly constructed building of the Police Lines has been seriously damaged in the attack.

The ISPR added that the security forces in the vicinity were immediately mobilised to support the police force.

However, during the intense exchange of fire with the terrorists, the three brave policemen, having fought gallantly, embraced shahadat (martyrdom).

“Effective response of the policemen is a testament of their unrelenting resolve in the fight against terrorism.
Pakistan’s security forces stand shoulder to shoulder with other law enforcement agencies to ensure peace and stability in the country,” the ISPR said.

The attack comes days after almost two dozen soldiers were martyred in a terrorist attack in Dera Ismail Khan.

The ISPR had stated that a group of six terrorists attacked a security forces’ check post in the Daraban general area.

“The attempt to enter the post was effectively thwarted which forced the terrorists to ram an explosive-laden vehicle into the post, followed by a suicide bombing attack," according to the military's media wing.

“The resulting blasts led to the collapse of the building, causing multiple casualties; 23 brave soldiers embraced shahadat, while all six terrorists were effectively engaged and sent to hell,” the ISPR added.

The Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan, a group that only emerged on the scene in February this year, took responsibility for the DI Khan attack. (With input from app)