Two more cops injured in Bannu firing incidents

BANNU: Two cops guarding the polio teams sustained serious injuries when unidentified gunmen attacked them in Mandan Union Council on Wednesday.

The first incident occurred in the jurisdiction of Mandan Police Station where constable Muhammad Ashraf, who was going for polio duty, was attacked by unknown gunmen.

He sustained serious bullet injuries and was rushed to the local. However, he was later referred to a hospital in Peshawar because of his precarious condition.

In Wazir subdivision, unidentified gunmen attacked a police patrol in Talgi Adda area.As a result, a cop identified as Hizbullah sustained serious injuries. He was rushed to the hospital by local residents while other cops in the team continued a search operation in the area to apprehend the perpetrators. It was learnt that several suspects had been arrested during the ensuing search operation in the area.

Meanwhile, the anti-polio vaccination drive was partially halted in Mandan Union Council and security was put on high alert after the third incident of firing attack on the police.

The district health officer when contacted confirmed that in Mandan Union Council polio vaccination campaign was partially stopped due to security reasons.

It may be mentioned that a cop had sustained serious injuries when unidentified gunmen opened fire on him in Sorani Torka Bazaar on Tuesday.Police constable Abdul Hameed, who was deputed in Zarwam area in Wazir subdivision, was going for polio duty when unknown armed men opened fire on him. He sustained critical injuries and was shifted to hospital by the Rescue 1122 team.

Also, unidentified gunmen had attacked a team of anti-polio vaccination in Bajezo Banda Dabar in Mamond tehsil in Bajaur tribal district on Monday.However, no casualty was reported in the attack as the cops escorting the team returned the fire, forcing the attackers to flee the scene.