Hangu attack leaves cop martyred, four injured

A police constable was martyred and four others were injured in an attack on a police team in Hangu’s Thall tehsil on Monday. Police said the team was heading to escort polio workers when it came under fire, and two attackers were killed in retaliatory action.

PESHAWAR: A police constable was martyred and four other personnel were injured in an attack on a police party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Hangu district on Monday, according to police.

The incident occurred on the opening day of a week-long nationwide anti-polio campaign scheduled from April 13 to 19. Police said the targeted team was on its way to provide security to a polio vaccination team in Thall tehsil of Hangu when it came under attack.

Attack took place in Thall tehsil

According to police, the assault happened as the police team was moving to escort polio workers in the area. In the exchange that followed, police returned fire and killed two attackers.

Police said the bodies of the two attackers were later taken away from the scene by terrorists.

One constable embraced martyrdom in the attack, while four other police personnel sustained injuries, police said. No further official details about the identities of the victims or the wounded were provided in the report.

Incident coincides with start of polio drive

The attack took place on the first day of the latest nationwide polio vaccination campaign, which is set to continue until April 19. Security is routinely deployed with vaccination teams in several areas during anti-polio drives.

The Hangu incident added to the security challenges surrounding the campaign in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where police teams are assigned to accompany vaccinators.

the situation as developing, with further updates expected as more information becomes available from the relevant authorities.

Police said the attack specifically targeted the team assigned to escort polio workers, underlining the risks faced by security personnel deployed for public health operations in sensitive districts.

Authorities had not released additional operational details in the initial account beyond confirming the location, casualties among police, and the deaths of two attackers during retaliatory fire.

The nationwide campaign began on Monday and is due to run for seven days. The attack in Hangu was reported the same day as the drive got under way.