Two Excise officials martyred in DI Khan

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Two officials of the Excise and Taxation Department, including an assistant sub-inspector (ASI), were killed when unidentified armed men opened fire at them at Daraban Chowk on the Dera bypass on Friday.

The owner of the hotel where the incident occurred was also injured.According to a report lodged by Excise and Taxation Officer (ETO) Faridullah Khan, who had assumed charge in Dera Ismail Khan the same day, ASI Syed Ali Shah, 34, of the South Region Excise Police Station, was travelling in a car along an aide Abideen, son of Amir Muhammad of Bannu, for duty on the Dera-Daraban Road.

The report stated that the two had stopped at a local hotel in Daraban Chowk for breakfast and were waiting for other excise staff to arrive when two armed men on a motorcycle opened fire at them.

ASI Syed Ali Shah and Abideen died on the spot, while 47-year-old hotel owner Hashim, son of Muhammad Bakhsh Machhi, a resident of Bhakkar, sustained injuries in the firing.Meanwhile, the personnel of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested four suspected militants and seized a cache of arms, ammunition, hand-grenades, and explosives during an intelligence-based operation, officials said on Friday.

District Police Officer (DPO) Dera Ismail Khan, Sajjad Ahmad Sahibzada, told the media that a joint operation was conducted by the Counter-Terrorism Department, police, and intelligence agencies in Mithi Baghwani, in the jurisdiction of Gomal University Police Station.

During the operation, four members of the proscribed Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (Bali Khiyara group) were arrested.They were identified as Umar Farooq, Asif Ali, Hasnain Muawiya and Hidayatullah.

According to police, the suspects were planning to carry out a terrorist attack during the August 14 celebrations. Weapons and explosives recovered from them included a prepared IED, a 9mm pistol, rifle, three magazines, 28 rounds, three hand-grenades, six detonators, 10 yards of safety fuse, 250 grams of explosives, five grenades and five mobile phones with four SIM cards.A case was registered at the CTD Police Station under terrorism and other relevant sections, and further investigation was underway.