SWABI: Police repulsed a midnight attack by militants on a checkpost near the border between Swabi and Buner districts, said DPO Sajjad Khan here on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference, he said that about 15 militants attacked Darran post from two different directions at midnight. He said that two policemen, guarding the post, exchanged fire with the assailants. Total 12 policemen were present at the post at the time of attack, he added.

The firing awakened the remaining 10 policemen, who took positions and repulsed the attack successfully, the DPO said. He added that police from different areas had also been called for reinforcement.

Mr Khan said that no casualty was reported in the attack. Militants also fired a rocket but it did not hit the police post, he said, adding the firing by militants damaged the post.

The militants had targeted the same post, killing two policemen, planting an improvised explosive device there (IED) and setting the post on fire before leaving the area in November 2013, the official recalled.

Soon after the incident, police launched a search operation in Razaar tehsil and beefed up security in the district. However, police failed to get any clue to the attackers, who managed to escape after the attack.

An official said that the militants, who were forced to leave the tribal areas after launch of operation Zarb-i-Azb, were involved in the attack.

However, another official contradicted his colleague and said that a network of militants existed in Razaar tehsil of the district.

Sources said that police called sniffer dogs to trace the attackers but they failed to get any clue to them.

Meanwhile, unidentified thieves stole a motorcycle in Shewa Adda here on Tuesday.

Registering an FIR in Kalu Khan police station, Syed Nasir Ali Shah said that he parked his motorcycle outside his friend’s shop but found it missing when he returned.

He said that the number of auto thieves was increased in the area and police should trace the gang involved in such activities.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2014