Six cops were martyred on Monday as police vehicles were targeted in two separate incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank and Lakki Marwat districts.
“Six policemen were martyred in the IED blast,” said a statement from the Tank police spokesperson, adding that their armoured personnel carrier (APC) was targeted within the jurisdiction of the Gomal police station.
“The blast occurred while the APC was on its way to Tank from the Gomal police station,” the statement added.
The martyred included an additional station house officer (SHO), the police spokesperson said.
The bodies were taken to the Tank District Headquarters Hospital by Rescue 1122. Police have sealed off the area and a “massive” security operation was underway, state-run APP reported.
Separately, another IED blast took place near Darra Tang road in Lakki Marwat, which injured three police personnel, according to APP.
According to a police statement, which did not specify the number of the wounded, a SHO and “police personnel were slightly injured and are now out of danger”.
“Fitna al Khwarij targeted the police APC with an IED explosion while they were patrolling near Jabar Khel on Darra Tang Road within the jurisdiction of the Saddar police station.
Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Subsequently, Lakki Marwat District Police Officer (DPO) Nazir Khan reached the site of the incident and assessed the situation. A search operation was then launched in the area, the police statement said.
It quoted DPO Nazir as saying, “These cowardly acts cannot lower our morale. The Lakki Marwat police are responding vigorously to every challenge and are ready to give every possible sacrifice for the public’s protection.”
The officer asserted that the police were resolutely tackling Fitna al Khwarij, adding that security has been increased in the area.
