Four abducted by terrorists in Bannu

Tensions rise following SHO's killing

DI KHAN:

Unidentified terrorists abducted four civilians in Bannu on Wednesday, officials said. The incident occurred in the jurisdiction of Hawayd Police Station, and among the abducted are Naqeebullah and Barkatullah, residents of Sheikh Lundak.

Local sources indicated that the terrorists accused the victims of assisting police during an attack on the Sheikh Lundak police outpost. The abductees were known to operate businesses in the Akaka Hawayd area of Bannu.

Meanwhile, new details have emerged regarding the abduction and subsequent killing of former SHO Abid in Bannu. Sources revealed that negotiations had been underway with terrorist groups for Abid's release. Abid had been relieved from his police duties a few weeks prior, after which local elders and jirgas initiated talks with the Hafiz Gul Bahadar group.

According to sources, both parties had initially agreed to hand over the abductee to the jirga, but Hafiz Gul Bahadur opposed the decision and refused to release him. Regional reports suggest that Gul Bahadur's group is attempting to intimidate the police through such operations due to personal enmity with the tribal police.

Sources added that the police previously confronted a large number of terrorists in Mamand Khel, Dawood Shah, despite limited manpower, successfully eliminating five terrorists. Following this, the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group carried out several retaliatory but unsuccessful attacks on police.