Mardan SP martyred, three cops injured in encounter

MARDAN/ PESHAWAR: A senior police officer embraced martyrdom and three cops were injured in a clash in the limits of Katlang Police Station that left two militants dead early Tuesday, police sources said.

The sources said the police conducted an intelligence-based operation in the limits of the Katlang Police Station in the wee hours of Tuesday. Superintendent of Police (SP), Rural, Muhammad Ejaz Khan Sherpao, and DSP of Katlang, Naseem Khan, headed the police team.

A militant Hussain Qader Yousafzai alias Mohsin Qadir along with his other accomplice was stated to be present in the Zara Matta area. An exchange of fire took place between the police and militants, the sources said, adding SP (Rural) Muhammad Ejaz Khan Sherpao was martyred while DSP Naseem Khan and his gunmen constables Mansoor and Saleem were injured.

The sources said that militant Mohsin Qadir and his other accomplices identified as Abbas alias Essa died on the spot.

The body of the martyred SP and injured cops were shifted to the Mardan Medical Complex. The sources said the police and law-enforcers cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.

Meanwhile, the funeral prayer of the martyred SP was offered at the Mardan Police Lines. Regional Police Officer, Mardan Range, Muhammad Salman, District Police Officer Najeebur Rehman, Deputy Commissioner Fayaz Khan Sherpao and other officials attended the funeral prayer.

The SP’s body was shifted to his native town Sherpao in Charsadda district for burial.

Officials said that Mohsin Qadir Group had been operating in the area since long. The militants were part of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)’s Haris faction, which joined the group in 2011. Before that, they were affiliated with TTP Swat. The sources added that militant Essa was the brother-in-law of Mohsin Qadir. Both had moved to Swat with families during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government.

Mohsin Qadir was wanted by security forces and police in more than 21 cases of terrorism. The government had fixed Rs7 million head money for Mohsin Qadir. Abbas alias Essa was wanted by police in over 11 cases of terrorism and the government had fixed Rs5 million head money for him.

Meanwhile, KP Inspector General Akhtar Hayat Khan paid tributes to the martyred cop. “Those who sacrifice their lives in the line of duty are the nation’s heroes,” he said in a statement. “The ongoing war against terrorists will continue till the elimination of last terrorist,” the KP police chief added.

Meanwhile, two policemen were martyred and another was injured in separate attacks in the provincial capital on Tuesday.

Constable Tauseef Khan was martyred when armed attackers opened fire on a police party on the Telaband Road in Badaber town during patrolling in the evening. An official said police rushed to the spot where a search operation was conducted after the attack. The official said the police party was in the area to check some suspicious movement when armed men opened fire on the cops.

Earlier, a police constable was martyred while another was wounded when unidentified attackers opened fire on them in the limits of Phandu Police Station. An official said constable Qaisar Khan of the Ababeel Squad was martyred while Raham Niaz was wounded when unidentified men opened fire on them in Phandu village. The official said the cops signaled some suspects riding a motorbike but they sped away. The policemen chased the fleeing suspects who opened fire on them. A search operation was launched in the area.

The funeral prayers for the fallen policemen were offered at the Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines, which were attended by senior officers.