JAMMU: At least 11 police personnel, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and a Sub Inspector (SI), were killed. At least 12 others were injured when armed…
JAMMU: At least 11 police personnel, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and a Sub Inspector (SI), were killed. At least 12 others were injured when armed men attacked a police team during an operation against illegal gold mining in the Gambat area of Kohat in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) on Wednesday, according to officials. A statement from Rescue 1122 said the number of personnel who died had reached 11, while 12 were injured. The condition of some of the injured personnel was described as critical.
Kohat police spokesperson Muhammad Nauman Zeb said the team was heading to conduct a raid against illegal mining when it came under fire in the Darbokach Jalandhar Banda area, located between Kohat and Karak. Initial reports suggested that the attackers opened fire on police personnel from hilltops, resulting in casualties and damage to police vehicles. Zeb identified Gambat DSP Haider Zaman and SI Mukhtiar among those killed in the attack.
Five police mobile vehicles in which the teams were travelling were also set on fire during the assault, according to a report of The Express Tribune. The police spokesperson said the attackers continued firing at police personnel, resulting in a heavy exchange of fire. Additional police vehicles were dispatched to the scene, while a heavy police contingent was called in to respond to the attack.
Read More: Israel PM Race: Rift emerges in Eisenkot bloc as doubts grow over Bennett and Golan; Government formation falters Security was placed on high alert in the area as further reinforcements were sent to the scene. Following the attack, an emergency was declared at the District Headquarters Teaching Hospital, he added. K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi strongly condemned the attack, expressing grief over the martyrdom of police personnel.
The governor described the attack as a highly condemnable and cowardly act and paid tribute to the martyred policemen, extending his condolences and sympathies to their bereaved families. Incidentally, KP was put under Central rule after dismissing the Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI) government in the recent past accusing it of not doing enough to stop violence. However, after this dismissal, there have been no marked improvement in the law and order conditions in the province.
This is a source-linked briefing. Read the original report from Organiser Weekly .