Agencies
Four policemen, including two officials, were martyred and two terrorists were killed during an exchange of fire in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Karak district on Thursday, police said.
A statement by the KP police said law enforcers had initiated a search and strike operation in the Charpara area at noon, where terrorists had set up a blockade on Wednesday night.
The operation was led by Banda Daud Shah and Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) deputy superintendents of police (DSP), in which bomb disposal unit (BDU) personnel, a drone team, Rescue 15 personnel and Rapid Response Force personnel also participated, the statement said. “During the operation, the law enforcers raided the hideout of a terrorist commander, Qaiser Iqbal, where an exchange of fire took place,” the police said, adding that two terrorists were killed in the encounter.
CTD DSP Imranuddin Khan, Latambar Station House Officer (SHO) Sub-Inspector (SI) Afzal Awan, Constable Kazim and Head Constable Amjab from the BDU were martyred in the exchange of fire.
The statement said the operation was ongoing. It added, “The brave martyred personnel of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police have set a shining example of dedication to duty, courage, and a commitment to public safety by sacrificing their lives in the fight against terrorism.”
The statement said the sacrifices of the martyred policemen reflected the police force’s “unwavering resolve” to continue making every possible effort to eradicate terrorism and establish lasting peace in the region.
Separately, security forces killed three terrorists and surrounded seven others during ongoing operations after foiling an attempted attack on a construction company’s empty camp in Gwadar, security sources said on Thursday. According to the security sources, forces responded promptly to the attempted attack by terrorists belonging to Fitna al Hindustan and thwarted their bid to target the vacant camp.
Three terrorists were killed during the operation, while security forces surrounded three more terrorists at the location, the sources added.
Meanwhile, security forces were also conducting an operation against terrorists present inside a hotel located near the Gwadar highway following another attempted attack. Four terrorists at the hotel had been surrounded by the security forces, according to the sources. The security sources said the Gwadar General Officer Commanding (GOC) was personally leading the operation.