One policeman martyred, six injured in Dera Ismail Khan attack

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A police gunman was martyred after unidentified armed men attacked a police party in Dera Ismail Khan, injuring six personnel including a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), police said.

The incident took place within the jurisdiction of Hathala police station, according to police. The police party, led by DSP Kifayat Khan, was travelling along Tank Road when armed men launched a sudden attack in the area between Pota and Amin Farm.

Police personnel immediately returned fire, a police spokesperson said. During the exchange of fire, the police vehicle overturned, injuring DSP Kifayat Khan and five other personnel. A sixth policeman sustained a gunshot wound.

DPO Ziauddin Ahmed told Hum News that the injured personnel were shifted to the DHQ Teaching Hospital in Dera Ismail Khan shortly after the incident.

Saeed Khan, the DSP’s gunman, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital and was martyred, the DPO said.

Following reports of the attack, a heavy contingent of police and other law enforcement agencies reached the site, cordoned off the area and launched a search operation, police said.

The attack comes amid other incidents targeting police personnel in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

On Aug 3, a suicide attack on Kabal police station in Swat left 17 people martyred and 19 injured.

According to Swat DPO Muhammad Umar Khan, the suicide bomber’s head was recovered from the scene. Initial investigations indicated that the attacker was an Afghan national, he said.

Earlier, on Feb 25, four police personnel were martyred in an attack by armed men in Bajaur.

Police said armed men targeted an Ababeel Squad in Nawagai area of tehsil Khar. Four personnel were martyred at the scene, while two others were seriously injured.