Polio officer killed, cop injured in targeted attack

Doctor served as coordinator for polio immunisation programme in Bajaur

BAJAUR:

A polio programme official was killed and a police officer injured when unidentified assailants targeted a vehicle in Mamond tehsil of Bajaur district on Friday.

The victims, identified as polio official Dr Abdul Rehman and police officer Ilyas, were ambushed by armed men while returning from the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Khar in the Tarkhoo area of Mamond tehsil.

The attackers opened fire on their vehicle, inflicting severe injuries upon both Dr Rehman and officer Ilyas. The victims were swiftly transported to District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Khar, Bajaur, for immediate medical attention. However, Dr Rehman's condition deteriorated, and he was airlifted to CMH Peshawar, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Authorities reported that the attack occurred as Dr Rehman was returning from DHQ Hospital Khar in the Tarkhoo area of Mamond tehsil.

The deceased doctor served as the coordinator for the polio immunisation programme in Bajaur. Rescue 1122 Media Coordinator Ibraheem Khan confirmed that emergency response teams provided medical aid to the injured and promptly transferred them to DHQ Khar in critical condition.

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Dr Wazir Khan, the medical superintendent at the facility, announced Dr Rehman's demise. The tragic incident follows a recent bombing in Bajaur, where two individuals were injured after a roadside bomb targeted a vehicle in the tribal district.

The region has witnessed heightened violence, as an earlier attack at the beginning of January claimed lives of seven policemen on polio duty, and over 20 were injured in a bomb attack in the Billoot area of Mamond tehsil.

A report reveals that since 2012, a total of 109 individuals have lost their lives in polio-related incidents, with 162 injuries recorded among policemen and polio workers during this period.

The report further highlights 13 people were kidnapped during vaccination drives, bringing the total number of killed and injured to 284.

Among the victims were 166 policemen, 87 health workers, and 31 civilians, comprising 255 men and 29 women. The escalating violence poses a severe threat to ongoing vaccination efforts in the region.