- Terrorists manage to flee with bodies of accomplices after fierce gun battle
BANNU: Three personnel of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) were martyred and two others injured in fire exchange with terrorists in Bannu in wee hours of Thursday, officials said.
According to a statement issued by the office of Bannu Regional Police Officer (RPO) Sajjad Khan on Thursday, the fire exchange took place in Bannu’s Spin Tangi area of Chashmi late Wednesday night.
“During the crossfire, Bannu CTD personnel, including Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Benyamin Khan, Constable Inam Khan and Constable Musawar were martyred while two constablesb – Wafid Khan and Imran sustained injuries”, it said.
The statement said two khawarij were also killed and two injured in the CTD personnel’s firing, but their accomplices took bodies and injured with them.
“Weapons, ammunition, IEDs (improvised explosive device) and hand grenades were recovered from the terrorists, which were seized by the police,” the spokesman said.
RPO Khan, Bannu District Police Officer (DPO) Saleem Abbas Kalachi, and CTD Superintendent of Police reached the hospital soon after the incident and inquired after the condition of the injured personnel.
They also issued instructions to the hospital staff for the best treatment of those injured.
Reiterating the force’s resolve, RPO Khan declared that all available resources will be utilised for the best treatment of the injured personnel.
“We will soon avenge our martyred brothers and deal the terrorists with an iron hand,” he said.
A large contingent of Bannu police and CTD police cordoned off the area and launched hunt for the runaway terrorists. Raids are being conducted on the hideouts of the terrorists, the spokesman said.
Later in the day, funeral prayers for the martyred were offered with official honours at Bannu Police Lines.
The funeral was attended by CTD Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Shaukat Abbas, RPO Khan, DPO Kalachi, Bannu Commissioner, senior military officials and families of the martyrs.
“Terrorists cannot demoralise us with their evil intentions. We will fight them bravely and destroy their evil intentions,” AIG Abbas said.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi condemned the attack and expressed his condolences to the families of the martyred.
According to a statement issued by his office, KP Governor House, Kundi paid tribute to the personnel for bravely confronting the terrorists.
“The sacrifices of the police and security forces against the terrorists will not go in vain,” he said.
