Eight terrorists eliminated, cop martyred in intense Bannu gunbattle

RAWALPINDI: As many as eight terrorists were eliminated and a policeman was martyred in an intense gunbattle between terrorists and CTD personnel in Barakzai Akhundkhel area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district on Saturday morning.

Backed by advanced technology and drone surveillance, the Bannu police and Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel launched a joint intelligence-based operation after learning about the presence of terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Khwarij in the area.

The terrorists opened indiscriminate firing on the raiding teams. In the ensuring battle, eight terrorists were sent to hell while several others were injured. One police official was also martyred and another wounded in the gunbattle.

The security personnel also defused a 10-kg locally-made remote-controlled bomb they recovered from the terrorists’ hideout. The Bannu City Police Officer (CPO) said that the area was cordoned off after the operation as security forces conducted a search operation to clear any remaining threats.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General Police Zulfiqar Hameed praised the operation, describing it as successful and crediting police and CTD personnel for their response.

He said that “every attack by hostile elements will be responded to firmly,” adding that operations against militant groups would continue across the province.

The IGP said that police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were on the frontline in protecting the life and property of citizens. He also announced rewards for the police team involved in the Bannu operation in recognition of their performance, according to an official statement.

Medical Teaching Institution Bannu spokesperson, Mohammad Nauman Khattab, said “three injured policemen and a martyr were brought” to the District Headquarters Hospital.