A police constable was allegedly kidnapped by militants from Frontier Road, Sheikhan in the jurisdiction of Badhaber police station on Saturday afternoon. By evening, unconfirmed reports had surfaced of his body being found in Faqirabad.
According to the police, Anwar Khan, a resident of Swabi, is an ex-serviceman who was recruited as a police constable. Khan had initially been posted at Aziz Market check post and was then transferred to Sheikhan police station.
The police said Khan was moving his personal belongings to Sheikhan on a horse carriage and was waylaid by armed militants—who were on a motorcycle—and abducted.
“Anwar Khan has been allegedly kidnapped by militants and taken to Akka Khel in Khyber Agency,” said one police official.
The police could not confirm reports of Khan’s death.
On Thursday, militants opened fire at a police patrol on Frontier Road. A militant was killed in the encounter and another was said to be critically injured.
“They regularly check our pockets for mobile phones with cameras. Many people have complained that the militants have stolen cash and mobile phones from them on Frontier Road,” said one resident.
He added the police have not cracked down on militants and have remained confined to their check posts in Sheikhan village.
Locals say militants have been on the prowl since two or three days and may have been responsible for kidnapping the police constable on Frontier Road.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 14th, 2014.
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