3 traffic policemen martyred in attack on vehicle in KP's Tank

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Three traffic policemen were martyred and three other people injured when unidentified armed men opened fire on a traffic police mobile van in the Wazirabad area of KP’s Tank district on Monday, according to a police report.

Two passersby were also injured in the firing and were subsequently taken to a hospital for treatment, the report added.

Police said the attackers fled with the traffic police mobile van. A heavy contingent of police reached the site shortly afterwards and cordoned off the area, while a search operation was launched to trace the suspects and recover the vehicle.

An investigation into the attack was underway, with efforts being made to identify and arrest those involved, police say.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi expressed deep sorrow over the attack and sought a report from the relevant senior authorities. In a statement, the governor conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and colleagues of the martyred policemen.

Kundi directed the authorities to ensure that all possible medical treatment was provided to the injured and prayed for their early recovery.

Earlier this month, at least 21 people, including 15 police officials, were martyred when an explosives-laden vehicle detonated near a mosque in Kohat Police Lines, followed by terrorists storming the compound and attacking police facilities, according to senior police and district health officials.

On July 26, a terrorist attack on a joint police checkpost in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank district martyred 15 people, including 14 security personnel, the military’s media wing.

Among those martyred were 12 soldiers, two policemen and a government official.

In another attack during the same month, two cops were martyred and as many injured in what police suspected was an improvised explosive device (IED) attack.

KP has been facing security challenges, and according to monthly data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), mainland KP recorded 54 terrorist attacks last month, marking a 50 per cent increase compared to July.