Attack foiled: TTP militants, police officer killed in Mardan attack

Taliban reject official versions, claim militants escaped unharmed.

ISLAMABAD/ MARDAN/ KATLANG:

A police official and two Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militants were killed in an attack on a security check-point in Mardan on Saturday, police said.

Two men, suspected to be suicide bombers, approached the check-point located near Biland Market in Katlang tehsil in a motorcycle and opened fire on it at 9am.

A police official, Additional SHO Khushdil Khan, was shot as he tackled one of the militants to stop him from detonating his explosive vest. Kushdil later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

DSP Niaz Khan told The Express Tribune that Khushdil, who was deployed at the check-post, had grabbed one of the bombers but the other suspect managed to shoot him.

One of the militants was shot as he attempted to flee, after which his explosive jacket detonated, killing him instantly.

The police added that the other suspect took refuge at a nearby house, which was soon surrounded by the police. Emerging out of the house, the militant began firing at the police and also hurled a grenade at them. However, the grenade landed close to him, killing him instantly.  The TTP claimed responsibility for the attack, but TTP spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan disputed the official version of the incident, claiming that it was not a suicide attack.

“It was a hand grenade attack and both our men escaped on a motorbike,” the TTP spokesman told The Express Tribune in a phone call.

“Two civilians, Hazrat Nabi and Suliman, were also injured as they were caught in the crossfire,” the DSP told The Express Tribune. The injured victims are stated to be in critical condition. Eyewitnesses said Nabi, only 13 years of age, was transporting dishes from a nearby hotel when he got caught in the cross fire.

The body of Khushdil Khan was taken to his hometown of Kala Kallay in Swabi, where he was laid to rest.

On Thursday, two policemen were killed when unidentified militants riding on a motorcycle opened fire at the police on duty at the Doranabad checkpoint in Katlang Road, Mardan.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st, 2013.