Three security personnel martyred in twin Bannu attacks

PESHAWAR: Two police personnel and a security guard were martyred in separate firing incidents in Bannu on Monday, District Police Officer (DPO) Yasir Afridi confirmed.

The first attack took place outside a NADRA office in the Baka Khel area, where unidentified gunmen opened fire on security staff. Constable Rafiullah and security guard Gul Shah Noor were killed on the spot. Police rushed to the scene, but the assailants managed to escape. The bodies were shifted to District Headquarters Hospital for post-mortem.

In a separate incident near Miryan Kinger police station, another constable, Sher Muhammad, was shot dead by unknown attackers. Security forces have launched search operations and set up checkpoints across the district.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi condemned the attacks and expressed solidarity with the bereaved families. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also paid tribute to the victims, calling their sacrifice a symbol of bravery and duty.

The incidents come days after a deadly suicide attack on Domel Police Station in Bannu, which claimed five lives, including women and a child, after explosives detonated in a nearby civilian area when the attacker failed to breach the facility.

Last week, an IED blast in Lakki Marwat injured seven people, including three police personnel. Earlier, another explosion in the district killed seven policemen, including a station house officer.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa continues to face a surge in militant attacks following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, with frequent cross-border incursions targeting law enforcement.

According to official data, the province recorded the highest number of militant incidents in the country last year, highlighting the growing security challenges in the region.