SWAT: Two policemen and a bank security guard were shot dead when unidentified armed men opened indiscriminate fire in Mingora here on Thursday.

According to DPO Swat Shafiullah Gandapur, the police officers were on duty near the Subzi Mandi (vegetable market) in Mingora when unidentified armed men opened indiscriminate fire on them.

Consequently, both the policemen Umara Khan and Ashraf Ali died on the spot while Musa Khan, a bank security guard, was critically injured.

The injured guard was rushed to Saidu Sharif Teaching Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The attacker managed to escape after the incident. The police surrounded the area and started a search operation.

The funeral prayers of the police personnel were later offered in Swat police lines, which was attended by government officials and people in large number, and later, they were laid to rest with state honors.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued on the TTP social media page, the spokesperson of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban, Mohammad Khorasani, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the police officers were killed in revenge for the three Taliban who were killed by the police in Banjot area the other day.

On the other hand, the family members of the deceased police personnel placed the dead bodies on Saidu-Mingora road in a protest blocking the road to traffic.

The protesters said the policemen were martyred in broad daylight and asked how the accused escaped in the crowded market.

However, after negotiating with the police officers, the protestors ended their protest and left for the police lines with the dead bodies.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2023