LAKKI MARWAT: Three policemen of counter terrorism department embraced martyrdom and two others were injured in an armed clash with terrorists in Speena Tangi Chashmi area of Bannu district late on Wednesday night.

A police official confirmed the terrorist attack occurred in the limits of Domel police station and said that two terrorists were also killed and as many were injured in the gun battle.

He said the counter terrorism department personnel were engaged in an operation against terrorists when they came under attack.

“The sudden attack triggered a fierce gun battle leading to the martyrdom of CTD assistant sub inspector Binyameen Khan and constables Inam Khan and Musawir Khan,” the official maintained, adding that the bodies and injured policemen were transported to the District Headquarters Hospital.

He said that two khawarij, a term used by the government for terrorists, were also eliminated and as many injured in an exchange of fire.

He said the law enforcers seized arms and ammunition, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and hand grenades from the site, cordoned off the area and launched a search for the assailants.

The police later claimed that a terrorist commander was among the two terrorists killed in the clash. “It has been confirmed that one of the killed terrorists was commander Gulbaz involved in attacks on police installations, extortion and target killings and other terrorist activities,” a police official claimed.

Meanwhile, the funeral prayers of three martyred CTD personnel were offered with full official honours at Bannu police lines on Thursday.

Among others, AIG CTD Shaukat Abbas, divisional commissioner Mohammad Ali Shah, RPO Sajjad Khan, DPO Saleem Abbas Kulachi, SP CTD Fazal Wahid, AC Allah Nawaz Khan and military officials and relatives attended the last rites of the martyred cops.

Later the bodies were transported to their native villages for burial. On Tuesday night, terrorists ambushed a police party of Saddar police station in Bannu, leading to a gun battle wherein two policemen, including an SHO, were injured.

A terrorist was killed and his accomplice was injured in the fierce gunfight.

In another incident, a police official was seriously injured when unidentified gunmen had attacked him in the Rehmatabad area of Karak district.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2025