Showdown: Elite force personnel killed, militants gunned down

Zamani group allegedly comprises of DI Khan jailbreak convicts, other outlaws.

WANA/ DI KHAN: One elite force personnel was killed in a large operation conducted by the DI Khan police during the early hours of Sunday. The operation was against an alleged militant outfit, known by the name of its outlawed leader Zamani and focused on the mountain ranges along the border of Lakki Marwat.

Zamani group is said to comprise of criminals who fled during the DI Khan jail break among other outlaws.

A DI Khan police official said 16 heavily-armed police mobiles arrived at Rahamani, Panyala around 6am. During the operation, the police clashed with the group resulting in the death of policeman Najibullah. Law enforcement agencies managed to gun down two members of the Zamani group, identified as Inayatullah and Abdu Rehman, revealed a police official at Panyala police station to The Express Tribune. Another Zamani outlaw identified as Rehman and a woman were injured, said the police official.

DIG Abdul Ghaffar has requisitioned more men, arms and ammunition from DI Khan Police Lines to complete the operation. The police intend to destroy all hideouts of the outfit that is housing criminals wanted by the police, the DIG told The Express Tribune.

The crackdown was expected to stretch beyond sunset, however, the lack of mobile network coverage in the area means the force is finding it difficult to collect fresh intelligence on the alleged militants’ movements.

Meanwhile, Lakki Marwat DPO Ismail Karak simultaneously led another contingent of policemen against the Zamani group in the same area.

Body found in Wana

An unidentified body was recovered from Shehwakai Nerrai, South Waziristan on Sunday, confirmed tribal elders and the political administration.

The body was scarred with marks of deep injuries, according to the official. No one has claimed responsibility as yet.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 10^th, 2014.