Constable martyred in rocket, sniper attack on police vehicle in Bannu

PESHAWAR: A police constable was martyred on Friday after militants attacked an armoured police vehicle with a rocket and sniper fire in Kingar Jan Bahadar, within the limits of Mandan Police Station near the Fatah Khel police post in Bannu district, police said.

According to police, the vehicle was on routine patrol when it came under a sudden assault. The attack caused heavy damage to the vehicle and critically wounded the driver, a constable, who later died of his injuries.

A civilian who was present at the scene was also injured in the incident. He was shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital for treatment. Hospital sources said the injured civilian was out of danger.

After the attack, police and other security agencies sealed off the area and began a large-scale search and combing operation. Police officials said all available resources were being used to trace and arrest the militants involved, while security in the area had been put on high alert.

Renewed violence in Bannu

Bannu has witnessed repeated security incidents in recent months, with both civilians and local security personnel coming under attack amid a wider rise in militant violence. The unrest has included attacks on police personnel and jirga members, leading police and security forces to carry out targeted operations in different areas aimed at disrupting militant networks.

Officials had said that at least six terrorists were killed early on Wednesday when Bannu police repelled a major attack on the Mazanga police post.

Earlier, on Sunday, a police head constable and his five-year-old daughter were injured when unidentified men riding a motorcycle opened fire near the Shahdev area of Bannu.

On the same day, the bomb disposal squad defused an improvised explosive device within the jurisdiction of Kakki police station, averting what officials described as a major tragedy.

The latest attack adds to the string of violent incidents reported from the district, where security forces have continued operations following repeated militant assaults.