KP police face security challenges in southern districts: IGP

PESHAWAR: Inspector General of Police, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Akhtar Hayat, has said the KP Police face security challenges in the southern parts of the province but the law and order situation has improved in the rest of the province.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (Gandapur group) is involved in terror activities in Tehsil Kulachi, DI Khan. About 150 policemen embraced martyrdom this year to restore peace in the province. The overall figure of police martyrs has crossed 2,000 in the province.

Talking to this correspondent here on Monday, the IGP said around 236 terrorist attacks were thwarted and 235 terrorists killed in encounters with police. Police arrested about 731 terrorists this year.

Similarly, 33 terrorists were penalized by courts due to successful investigations. The Counterterrorism Department (CTD) conducted 1,866 operations against terrorists based on intelligence reports, including 37 most wanted terrorists whose head money was worth around Rs7.9 million. Besides, 731 terrorists were arrested.

“About 625 kg of explosives, 413 hand grenades, 14 suicide jackets, 131 weapons of different bores, 88 pistols and 16,032 rounds were recovered from the terrorists,” he said, adding that the group was involved in targeted killing of the minority community (Sikhs and Christians) in Peshawar, the attack on a Frontier Corps convoy in Hayatabad, Tehsil Bara suicide bombing, attack on Ali Masjid and attack on former MPA Malik Liaquat. Apart from this, the members of the group involved in an attack on DSP Iqbal Mohmand were brought to justice.

“The symbol of fear and terror in Dera Ismail Khan, Iqbal alias Bali Khiara, who was wanted in more than 35 serious cases in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was killed by police,” he said and added that the KP Police and CTD were achieving successes day by day through the best professional performance against terrorists. Two suicide bombers were killed before reaching their target at Tehsil Compound, Khyber District, and Hangu Doaba Police Station.

Talking about the sacrifices of martyrs in the war against terrorism, he said this year 84 cops were martyred in the Peshawar Police Lines blast and more than 70 personnel were martyred in the line of duty, while around 280 personnel were injured. He said police were being equipped with modern weapons.