Six cops martyred, 28 injured in Bajaur blast

KHAR: Six cops were martyred and 28 others sustained injuries in a blast targeting a police van in Bilot area in Mamond tehsil in Bajaur tribal district here on Monday.

The van carrying cops was on its way to the field todeploy the personnel for the security of the anti-polio drive when the vehicle was attacked with an improvised explosive device (IED) planted along the roadside.

Initially the blast claimed the lives of five cops and left 28 others wounded. Ten of the injured were taken to a hospital in Peshawar due to their precarious condition. However, one of the injured cops, Imran , succumbed to his wounds at hospital, taking the death toll to six. The van was badly damaged in the blast.

The martyred cops were identified as Habib-ur-Rahim, Munasib Khan, Mohammad Rauf, Jan Mohammad, Ali Rahman and Imran. Some of the injured included Adnan, Haroon, Siraj, Wali Khan, Sahibzada, Lehaz, Shahidullah, Zafar Khan, Ahmad, Abdul Razzak, Mohammad Israr, Jehangir, Faiz-ur-Rahman, Sahibzada, Sadbar, Hafiz, Hayatullah, Abdullah, Sher Mohammad, Sahib, Niamatullah, Jalil, Habibullah and Amirzada.

District Police Officer, Bajaur, Kashif Zulfikar, said the police launched a search operation in the area after the blast. Regional Police Officer, Malakand Range, Mohammad Ali Khan, Deputy Commissioner Anwar-ul-Haq and other officials visited the District Headquarters Hospital in Khar to inquire after the health of the injured.

Meanwhile, a soldier of Pakistan Army was martyred in an exchange of fire with terrorists in North Waziristan on Monday. According to an ISPR statement, a fire exchange took place between security forces and terrorists in North Waziristan District. Troops effectively engaged terrorists’ location and apprehended one terrorist in injured condition. However, during intense exchange of fire, Havildar Muhammad Zahir (age 41 years, resident of District Mardan), having fought gallantly, embraced Shahadat.

Sanitization operation is being carried out to eliminate any terrorists found in the area. The ISPR said that security forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve. Meanwhile, Awami National Party (ANP) leader Aimal Wali condemned the Bajaur blast and expressed sorrow over the loss of previous lives in the explosion.