Terror group chief's son reportedly killed

Commander Rahid, son of former Lashkare Islam chief Mangal Bagh, has been killed in an exchange of fire with security forces in Tirah valley of Khyber tribal district, local sources confirmed.

He is also said to have been responsible for an ambush on security forces. He recently made incursion into Tirah Valley along with his fighters, the sources added.

He was Ameer of Shura of Lashkar-e-Islam, an affiliate of the outlawed umbrella of terrorist outfits, TTP. They are considered by many to be the toughest affiliate of the terror group in the whole of the Khyber district.

During the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan, Mangal Bagh was considered to be responsible for disrupting NATO supplies along the Torkham Highway.

Kidnapped cops released

All seven policemen abducted in Bannu district have been safely recovered, confirmed the DPO, reported Express News on Tuesday.

The officers, taken by armed men from a remote mountainous checkpoint in the Ahmedzai Wazir subdivision, were freed through the coordinated efforts of local elders and police forces, according to DPO Ziauddin.

"Thanks to the joint efforts, we successfully secured the release of our personnel without incident," said Ziauddin, noting that the kidnappers initially overpowered the Rocha check post, seizing control and taking the officers and their weapons.

Four killed in ambush

In Bannu district, unidentified assailants opened fire, killing a tribal elder and three others, including a woman. At the same time, a woman and children were among the four injured in the assault.