Cop martyred in Darra attack, another freed

Gunmen hit Kohat post; abducted cop freed after mediation

DI KHAN:

In two separate incidents of violence, one police constable was martyred in a gun attack on a checkpost in Darra Adam Khel, while another officer abducted in South Waziristan was later released under conditions.

According to police sources, unidentified armed men opened fire late at night on a police checkpost in the Tor Chappar area of Darra Adam Khel, Kohat district. As a result of the firing, one police constable embraced martyrdom. The attackers managed to escape after the incident. Law enforcement agencies immediately launched a search operation in the surrounding area to trace the assailants.

The martyred officer's funeral prayers were offered with full official honours, after which his body was sent to his native village for burial.

Meanwhile, in South Waziristan, a police official who had been abducted was conditionally released. According to a video statement reportedly issued by the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the group claimed to have detained Constable Challa Khan, son of Khatool, belonging to the Dasi Khel clan of the Zali tribe, from the Azam Warsak area. The group alleged that he was arrested based on "timely intelligence by the TIA."

However, the constable was later released on the guarantee of local elders and religious scholars, on the condition that he would no longer perform duties at the local police station.

Meanwhile in Dera, a fierce exchange of fire erupted between police and unidentified armed men near Aba Shaheed Police Station on Monday. Additional reinforcements were dispatched from Ijaz Shaheed Police Lines. No casualties were reported till the filing of this report, while police had surrounded the attackers.