LOWER DIR: Unidentified militants attacked a checkpost manned by both Dir Levies and police personnel in the Takoro Kandao area of Lower Dir district on Monday midnight, leaving a cop martyred and another injured.

One of the attackers was also killed when the personnel at the checkpost retuned fire.

Dir Levies constable Qaisar and police head constable Sher Ali received bullet injuries when the attackers opened fire on the checkpost. Qaisar died later.

Residents said the exchange of fire between the personnel and the militants continued for some time.

Militant killed in return fire

Soon after the attack, security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.

The martyred cop was laid to rest at his village graveyard Bandagai in Talash. Funeral prayer for him was also offered at Timergara Police Line. It was attended by DPO Irfanullah, DC Aun Haidar Gondal and Colonel Musawir of Dir Task Force.

In a separate incident in Mirali town of North Waziristan tribal district, a constable was martyred and two others suffered injuries when unidentified men opened fire on them, police said on Tuesday.

They said the policemen were going to Miramshah, the headquarters of North Waziristan district, when the attackers opened fire on their vehicle near Mirali.

As a result, constable Ameenullah Khan was martyred and two others were injured.

The injured policemen were identified as Noor Zaman and Wasid. They were taken to a hospital in Miramshah.

The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Funeral prayer for the martyred policeman was held at the Governor’s Cottage in Miramshah on Tuesday morning. His body was later sent to his native village where he was laid to rest with full official honour.

Meanwhile, three police personnel were wounded in a hand-grenade attack on a police mobile patrol in Bhadbher area on the outskirts of Peshawar on Tuesday night.

A police spokesperson said that the three police personnel, identified as Mir Alarm, Khawas Khan and Farid Khan, sustained minor injuries when unidentified attackers hurled the grenade on the police mobile.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2022