Death toll from Bannu police attack rises to 15

MIRANSHAH:

The number of police personnel martyred in a brazen attack on a Bannu police checkpoint rose to 15 on Sunday, as a banned outfit, Ittehad Mujahideen Pakistan, belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij, claimed responsibility.

On the night between Saturday and Sunday, terrorists rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the Fateh Khel police checkpoint in Bannu, triggering a massive blast that completely reduced the structure to rubble.

According to police, terrorists opened intense fire from multiple directions after the explosion, leading to hours of heavy gunfire, additional explosions, and widespread panic in the area.

Bannu Regional Police Officer (RPO) Sajjad Khan said that a total of 18 police personnel were present at the checkpoint at the time of the attack.

"Of them, 15 embraced martyrdom on the spot, while three sustained serious injuries," he said.

Police identified the martyred personnel as Rehmat Ayaz, Sanaullah, Niaz Ali, Sohaib, Saadullah, Kamran, Naimatullah, Abid Jani, Imran, Naeemullah, Sadiqullah, Mir Alam Khan, Rahatullah Khan and Farooq Dad. The injured were identified as Feroz, Hayatullah and Fidaullah.

The explosion also caused extensive damage to nearby residential buildings and structures.

Following the incident, emergency was declared in all three major hospitals of Bannu, while Rescue 1122 teams rushed to the site and shifted the injured and the deceased to hospitals.

Security forces cordoned off the entire area and launched a search operation, while snap checking at entry and exit points of the city was intensified.

Sources said that contact with the Fateh Khel checkpoint was briefly lost after the attack but was later restored once security forces gained control of the situation. Later, funeral prayers for the martyred policemen were offered with full state honours at Police Lines Bannu.

The ceremony was attended by DIG Bannu Region Sajjad Khan, DPO Bannu Yasar Afridi, DPO Lakki Marwat Nazir Khan, SP CTD Fazal Wahid, SP Headquarters Mahmood Nawaz, SP City Tauheed Khan, SP Rural Haider Khan, senior police officials, personnel, and a large number of relatives of the martyrs.

The martyrs were laid to rest with full official honors amid chants of "Shaheed zinda hain""

The Fateh Khel checkpoint has been targeted in more than 40 attacks over the past several months.

However, the latest attack is being described as the deadliest in terms of intensity and casualties.

President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday paid tribute to the police personnel martyred in the terrorist attack and expressed condolences to the families of the martyrs, according to a press release.

Zardari also expressed sorrow over the damage caused to the homes of local residents in the incident and directed both the provincial and federal governments to ensure all possible assistance for the injured and affected families.

He reiterated that the nefarious designs of terrorists would be defeated. The nation stood shoulder to shoulder with its security forces.

The president further said that at a time when Pakistan was striving for regional and global peace, terrorist groups backed by India and operating from safe havens provided under the Taliban regime were targeting Pakistan's civilian population and law enforcement agencies.

Minister Shehbaz Sharif also telephoned K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and condemned the terrorist attack on a police post in Bannu. He expressed deep sorrow and grief over the loss of precious lives in the incident.

He prayed for a higher status in heaven for the police personnel martyred in the attack and expressed condolences to their families and also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the incident.

He reiterated the federal government's commitment to working with the provincial governments to eradicate terrorism and added that all possible support would be provided to the provincial government in the fight against terrorism.

K-P CM, in a statement, strongly condemned the terrorist attack and expressed deep sorrow and grief over the loss of lives in the attack and directed authorities to ensure the provision of the best possible medical treatment to the injured.

Seven terrorists killed in North Waziristan

Meanwhile, security forces neutralized seven more terrorists including two key commanders in a large-scale search-and-clearance operation in Tehsil Shewa and adjoining areas of North Waziristan.

According to sources, multiple terrorist hideouts were destroyed during an ongoing operation that entered its third day on Sunday.

In the Drazinda area of Tehsil Shewa, the Alam Khel Market was almost completely demolished during intense action, while a mosque located within the market was also destroyed after explosives were planted. Local sources claimed that these locations were allegedly being used by terrorists as shelters and for movement.

In the Anar Khel area, a suspected terror hideout and a residential house were also blown up using explosive material. Sources said that during the operation, security forces took control of several important buildings and government installations, including the Governor Model School, which was allegedly being used by militants.

Sources further stated that house-to-house search operations are underway in Drazinda and surrounding areas, while additional contingents of forces have been deployed across multiple locations. Security personnel conducted raids on several suspected sites and recovered weapons and other materials.

Reports suggest that terrorists have suffered heavy casualties so far; those killed were allegedly involved in attacks on security forces, police, and in targeted killings.

According to sources, operations have also been launched against terrorist hideouts in the Sakhni area, where intermittent firing and explosions continued to be heard.

A continuous curfew has been imposed in the affected areas severely disrupting daily life and causing significant hardship for residents. Locals reported that many families have moved to safer places, while business activities have come to a complete halt.

Security sources, however, maintained that the objective of the operation is to completely clear the area of militant elements and restore law and order.

 

Multiple terrorist hideouts were destroyed during ongoing operation in North Waziristan