Cop martyred, 4 injured in Charsadda, Bannu attacks

CHARSADDA/ BANNU: One cop embraced martyrdom and four others were injured in two separate attacks in Charsadda and Bannu districts on Wednesday.

Officials said that unidentified assailants on a motorcycle opened fire on a car on Ghani Khan Road in the limits of the City Police Station, Charsadda, resulting in the martyrdom of a cop and critical injury to a Health Department employee.

“Unidentified gunmen targeted a moving car, killing police officer Farooq, son of Abdullah, who was posted at NAB Peshawar.

The vehicle also carried Asad, son of Rustam, an employee of the Health Department, who sustained severe injuries in the attack,” said an official

The attackers managed to flee the scene. Locals responded quickly and shifted the deceased and the injured to the District Headquarters Hospital in Charsadda.

The injured Health Department employee was later shifted to Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar for specialised treatment as his condition was critical.

The funeral prayer for the martyred police officer was offered at Charsadda Police Lines and was attended by the deputy commissioner along with other senior officials.

Meanwhile, Armed persons opened fire on a police patrol of Thana Saddar near Kot Adil, injuring the station house officer (SHO) and a constable. In the ensuing exchange of fire, one alleged attacker was killed while another fled under the cover of darkness in injured condition.

Officials said that Thana Saddar Police Station SHO Waseem Sajjad was on a routine patrol duty along with his team when unidentified assailants opened fire on their vehicle.

SHO Sajjad and Constable Hayatullah sustained gunshot wounds and were immediately shifted to the hospital for treatment, they said, adding, medical staff later confirmed that both officers were out of danger.

Police retaliated swiftly, killing one suspect on the spot. The deceased was identified as Anis alias Sadees, a resident of Hasni Darashah.

His accomplice, Salman alias K2, also from Hasni Darashah, escaped despite being injured.

A search operation was launched in the area with heavy police deployment to track down the fugitive.

Weapons, including a Kalashnikov, a hand grenade, and live ammunition, were recovered from the slain suspect.

Following the incident, DIG Bannu Sajjad Khan and Bannu DPO Saleem Abbas Kulachi visited the hospital to inquire after the injured cop and commend their bravery.

However, the family of the deceased held a protest by placing the body on the main road, blocking traffic for several hours.

The relatives rejected the police narrative, terming the encounter “fake.” They alleged that Anis had a longstanding financial dispute with SHO Waseem Sajjad and that he had previously attacked them as well.