DSP killed, son injured in attack outside Peshawar mosque

PESHAWAR: A deputy superintendent of police (DSP) of the Counter-Terrorism Department was killed and his son sustained injuries when gunmen opened fire on them in the Madina Colony in the limits of Faqirabad Police Station here on Saturday.

“DSP Riazul Islam along with his son was on his way for maghrib prayers when he came under attack on the stairs of the mosque,” Capital City Police Officer Mohammad Tahir told The News.

According to the officials of the Lady Reading Hospital, DSP Riazul Islam succumbed to his injuries while being transported to the hospital. There were initial reports that his son was also injured in the firing. However, the CCPO said he didn’t receive any bullet and was slightly injured probably after falling down on the ground.

“The son of the attacked cop also retaliated as he and his father both were carrying pistols. We have received reports that he has managed to injure one of the attackers as some blood was found on the spot,” said Tahir.

Police have sent the samples of the blood for a DNA test to find about the wounded attacker and his group. Senior police officials rushed to the spot. There were reports that three assailants were involved in the attack.

The late Riazul Islam belonged to the Lakki Marwat district but had been serving in the provincial capital for the last many years. He headed various police stations of the city during the period.

The area where he was targetted has become infamous for attacks on the police and bomb blasts that have been reported in this neighbourhood over the last many months. A blast had killed three Frontier Constabulary soldiers and injured many others in this area a couple of weeks back. Several other attacks were also reported in the vicinity in the last many years.

Riazul Islam too had survived a bomb attack on his car in November 2009. He along with a cop and a passerby were wounded in the blast in the limits of the same Faqirabad Police Station. At the time, he was serving as station house officer of Gulbhar Police Station.

According to an official, slain DSP was under threat for a long time from militants. The officers and officials of the KP Police, especially those serving in CTD, have been under targetted attacks for the last many years. There is no adequate security arrangements during their movement between offices and homes as the majority of the cops are living in rented homes due to non-availability of official residences close to their offices.