- Police officer martyred, three injured in Bannu gunfight with terrorists
RAWALAKOT/BANNU: Four terrorists associated with the “Indian proxy Fitna al-Khawarij”, hiding in a cave were killed during an intelligence-based operation by police in Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, according to police.
Two police officers were martyred in the operation, confirmed Rawalakot SSP Riaz Mughal. The police officer said the police had received intelligence regarding the presence of terrorists in the forest area Rawalakot’s Hussain Kot.
Acting on the tip-off, police launched a raid during which the terrorists were found hiding in a cave.
As the police surrounded the cave and attempted to apprehend the suspects, one of the terrorists hurled a grenade at the officers, prompting retaliatory fire. In the exchange, all four terrorists were neutralized.
SSP Mughal stated that two police officers — Gulzar and Tariq Bashir — were martyred in the operation.
He said the killed terrorists were identified as Zarnosh Naseem, his brother Gibran Naseem, a suspect named Ulfat, and one unidentified individual.
The police recovered three Kalashnikov rifles, hand grenades, four suicide vests, and several rounds of ammunition from the site.
According to police, the terrorists were affiliated with “Fitna al-Khawarij,” the government’s designated term for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and were being handled from Afghanistan by a figure identified as Dr. Rauf. Their plan was to carry out a major attack in Azad Kashmir, the claimed.
Police officer martyred, three wounded in Bannu
In Bannu, a police officer was killed and three others were injured during an exchange of gunfire involving police, civilians and terrorists, police said on Thursday.
The injured include police constable Mir Zaman, schoolteacher Naqeebullah, and a civilian, Khafeezullah.
They were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital for medical treatment.
“The members of the peace committee, along with police personnel, were patrolling the area when they were attacked by terrorists at around 12:30am” spokesperson to the regional police officer told local news outlet.
The incident took place late Tuesday night in the Landigak area within the jurisdiction of the Huwaid police station. Police said that members of a local peace committee and residents resisted the terrorists who attempted to enter the village.
The martyred officer was identified as Murtaza, who was posted at the Bakakhel TDP camp. Locals had previously warned terrorists not to enter the area through community jirgas and took up arms to defend themselves when the group attempted an incursion.
Police said the terrorists were forced to flee due to the coordinated response from both the police and armed residents.
Separately, at least seven people, including police personnel, were killed and five others wounded in a series of shooting incidents across Bannu during the past 24 hours.
