Five police officials martyred as IED blast destroys APC in Tank
Five police officials were martyred on Monday when terrorists targeted their armoured personnel carrier with an improvised explosive device on the Tank-Gomal Road in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank district, in yet another deadly attack on security forces in the region.
According to police and rescue sources, the attack took place when the police APC was returning to Tank from Gomal Police Station. Terrorists had planted an IED along the roadside, which detonated as the vehicle passed over it, causing a powerful explosion that completely destroyed the APC. All five police personnel on board embraced martyrdom on the spot due to the intensity of the blast.
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Tank police confirmed the martyrdom of the officials and said that Additional Station House Officer of Gomal Police Station, Ishaq Khan, was among those killed in the attack. The explosion left the vehicle mangled and scattered debris across the area, creating panic among local residents.
Rescue 1122 teams rushed to the scene soon after the incident and shifted the bodies of the martyred policemen to Tank District Headquarters Hospital for medico-legal formalities. Security forces cordoned off the area following the blast, while an investigation was launched to trace those responsible for the attack.
The tragic incident came on a day marked by multiple counterterrorism operations in the province. Earlier on Monday, personnel of the Counter Terrorism Department, in coordination with local police, killed two terrorists during an intelligence-based operation in Bannu district. The operation was carried out in the jurisdiction of Mira Khel Police Station near Jando Khel Road.
Police sources said the slain terrorists were identified as Sohail alias Sanjri and Ismail alias Usman. They were involved in attacks on police checkposts in Sheikh Landak and Fateh Jhel areas, where eight policemen were injured. The terrorists had also targeted an under-construction Rescue 1122 building and were involved in an earlier IED attack.
During the operation in Bannu, the CTD and police recovered two Kalashnikov rifles, one pistol, a large quantity of ammunition, two motorcycles, two mobile phones, two CNICs and a card linked to a banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan outfit. Two other terrorists managed to flee the scene under the cover of darkness, and a search operation was launched to apprehend them.
In another separate operation conducted earlier, the CTD acted on intelligence information and targeted a formation of Fitna al-Khwarij at a checkpoint on Shah Kas Bypass Road in the Jamrud area of Khyber district. As a result of the operation, three terrorists were killed. According to CTD officials, the slain militants were active members of Fitna al-Khwarij and had been involved in multiple terrorist activities, including murder, attempted murder, extortion and attacks on security forces.
President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed deep grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of the police officials in Tank. In their separate statements, they offered prayers for the eternal peace of the departed souls and extended condolences to the families of the martyrs.
President Zardari paid tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of the martyred policemen, stating that their services in safeguarding the nation would always be remembered. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the terrorist attack and ordered an immediate investigation, directing authorities to ensure that those involved are brought to justice at the earliest. He reiterated the government’s firm resolve to completely eliminate terrorism from the country.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also strongly condemned the bomb blast, describing it as a cowardly act of terrorism. He paid rich tribute to the five police personnel, including the Additional SHO, who laid down their lives in the line of duty. Expressing heartfelt sympathy with the bereaved families, he said that Pakistan’s police officers sacrifice their today to secure a peaceful tomorrow for the nation, adding that the sacrifices of the martyrs are a source of national pride and will never be forgotten.
Separately, the interior minister lauded the Counter Terrorism Department for successfully foiling terrorism plots through intelligence-based operations in Peshawar, Bannu and Khyber. He praised the professionalism of CTD personnel for eliminating eight terrorists, including two most-wanted commanders, and saluted the brave officers who took part in the operations. He said the role of CTD was commendable in wiping out terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and emphasized that intelligence-based operations would continue until the complete eradication of terrorists from the province.
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