Police Training Centre: Seven cops martyred in DI Khan attack

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Seven cops embraced martyrdom and another 13 sustained injuries in an overnight attack on the newly established Police Training Centre in Dera Ismail Khan, officials said on Saturday.

Six terrorists were killed during the action when the forces launched an operation against them.

It was learnt that heavily armed militants launched the assault on the police training centre late Friday night.

According to the police, the attack began when a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden truck into the main gate of the training centre, allowing other militants to storm inside.

The assailants, armed with heavy weapons, engaged the police in fierce gunfire that continued for several hours.

Soon after the attack, Regional Police Officer (RPO) Syed Ashfaq Anwar and District Police Officer (DPO) Sahibzada Sajjad Ahmad arrived at the scene with a heavy contingent of the police and launched a joint operation along with the security forces to clear the compound. The operation continued until around 5am on Saturday, leaving six militants dead, including a suicide bomber.

Authorities said the attackers also targeted the nearby Nadra office, setting vehicles and parts of the building on fire. The security forces recovered suicide vests, hand-grenades, and a large cache of sophisticated weapons from the slain terrorists.

The martyred cops were identified as Mudassir, Jalal, Daniyal, Anwar, Farmanullah, Shafqat Mahmood, and Ismatullah.

The injured personnel were Constable Saddam, APC driver Saeed-ur-Rehman, Naseer Muhammad, Muhammad Shoaib, Hazrat Ali, Muhammad Saleem, Yaqoob, Yasser, Abdullah, Mudassir, Ismat Abbas, Amanullah, and Ejaz Ahmad.

Following the attack, security was placed on high alert across Dera Ismail Khan.

The funeral prayers for the martyrs were held at Ejaz Shaheed Police Lines, attended by former chief minister Sardar Ali Amin Gandapur, KP Chief Secretary Syed Shahab Ali Shah, Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed, Brigadier Abu Bakar, RPO Ashfaq Anwar, DPO Sajjad Ahmad Sahibzada, former MPA Abdul Haleem Qasuria, and other political and social representatives.

A smartly turned-out police contingent presented a guard of honour to the martyrs.

Meanwhile, a press release issued by the police said that heavily armed militants attacked the Police Training School in the Ratta Kulachi area of Dera Ismail Khan, triggering an intense gunbattle that lasted several hours. Security forces repulsed the assault.

According to police, the militants described as members of Fitna Al Khawarij group launched the attack by ramming an explosives-laden truck into the school’s main gate, causing part of the wall to collapse. Two policemen stationed at the gate were martyred after being buried under the debris. Moments later, militants disguised in various uniforms entered the premises and opened fire.

One on-duty policeman bravely returned the fire and held his ground until he was martyred when the attackers hurled hand-grenades. The exchange of fire continued for several hours as militants repeatedly used grenades and automatic weapons. Three police personnel embraced martyrdom in the operation, while six others sustained injuries and were rushed to hospital. Authorities confirmed that all recruits and staff inside the training school numbering around 200 individuals were evacuated.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police (IGP) Zulfiqar Hameed lauded the swift response of Dera Ismail Khan police under the leadership of RPO Syed Ashfaq Anwar and DPO Sajjad Ahmad.

The IGP prayed for the martyrs and announced special rewards for all officers and personnel who took part in the operation. The area was declared clear, while a search and clearance operation was continuing.