Khyber SHO martyred in clash with smugglers

Station House Officer (SHO) of Malagori Police Station, Riaz Hussain Afridi, was martyred after sustaining serious injuries in an exchange of fire with smugglers of non-custom paid vehicles in Khyber tribal district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. According to District Police Officer (DPO) Khyber Waqar Ahmad, SHO Riaz Hussain Afridi was critically wounded during an operation against the smugglers. He was immediately shifted to a hospital in Peshawar for medical treatment but later succumbed to his injuries. Police said two non-custom paid vehicles were seized from the scene after the firing. A search operation is underway in the area to arrest the accused. The vehicles were being transported to Mohmand district via the Malagori route. Further investigations into the incident are continuing. The funeral prayer of the martyred SHO was offered with full state honours at Police Lines Khyber. A large number of high-ranking civil and military officials, the martyr's family members and local residents attended. Among those who participated were Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, DPO Khyber Waqar Ahmed, Deputy Commissioner Khyber Shahid Ali, military officials, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Azmat Saeed and Member of the Provincial Assembly Abdul Ghani. Mourners paid tribute to the services of the martyred officer. After the funeral prayer, his body was taken to his ancestral village Ghandi for burial.