6 police stations attacked in Bannu, Lakki, Tank

PESHAWAR/KHAR: Six police stations and posts came under attack in Bannu, Lakki Marwat and Tank in the early hours of Saturday. Officials said no casualty was reported as the cops were alert and they repulsed all the attacks with the support of local people.

The attacks were carried out on four police stations Bakakhel, Ghoriwala, Pezu and Dadiwala in Lakki Marwat and Bannu districts. Besides, two posts Abbasa Khattak and Khojari also came under attack. All these attacks happened within a few hours on the night between Friday and Saturday.

The attacks started when fire was opened on the police station Bakakhel in Bannu. An official said the attackers escaped when the cops returned the fire.

The official added that terrorists then targeted the police station Ghoriwala in Bannu with grenades. Hand grenade was also hurled at the police post Khojari that partially damaged the boundary wall. Armed locals came out of their houses to support the police after which the attackers escaped.

“In the morning, the police post Abbasa Khattak in Lakki Marwat was attacked but the alert cops retaliated with gunfire. Teams from Lakki Marwat and nearby Karak districts rushed to the spot after the attack,” an official said.

He added a search operation was conducted in the area where the attackers escaped when a police patrolling car was attacked with an improvised explosive device. The blast damaged the car but the cops remained unharmed.

Attacks were also reported from some other areas but the cops remained unhurt.

A surge was reported in terrorist attacks in southern districts and some other parts of KP since the start of Ramazan.

An official said Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed lauded the police jawans and officers of Lakki Marwat, Bannu and Tank for thwarting the continuous attacks of terrorists. The IGP said that the police of these districts had created a history of courage and bravery. The IGP announced cash reward and certificates for all the cops who successfully repulsed these attacks

Meanwhile, unidentified assailants opened fire on the vehicle of Lohi Sam Police Station’s SHO in Inayat Killay Bazaar in Bajaur district, leaving four people injured, including a police officer. According to police sources, the incident occurred on Saturday before Iftar when unidentified gunmen targeted the police officer’s vehicle in a sudden attack. The injured were immediately shifted to Khar Hospital for treatment. The injured have been identified as Police Constable Kifayatullah, Abu Huraira (son of Syed Zaman), resident of Inayat Killay, Haji Gul Badshah, resident of Shandai Mor, and Huzaifa (son of Iftikhar), resident of Bhai Cheena.