LAKKI MARWAT: A police constable embraced martyrdom during a fierce gun battle with militants who had attacked a police post in the Fatehkhel area of Bannu late on Saturday night, according to a police official.

Three alleged militants were also gunned down during the exchange of fire, Regional Police Offi­cer Sajjad Khan said, adding that 40 to 50 militants attacked the checkpoint but security personnel foiled the ambush.

An official explained that the assailants, armed with light and heavy weapons, attempted to breach the police post but the cops deployed there held them off.

The militants had also “set up barriers/cordons” at two different points on the road leading to the police post to stop the reinforcement from reaching the area, he added.

However, police teams led by RPO Khan and District Police Officer Saleem Abbas Kulachi reached the site clearing the obstacles and took part in the gunfight with the militants, the official said.

In the meantime, a quick response team of the armed forces also arrived at the scene from Bannu cantonment and took part in the operation.

The official confirmed three militants were killed and several injured during the gunfight. “We have recovered two bodies from the site and one might have been taken away by the attackers along with injured accomplices,” the official said.

The police also found blood, shoes and other items allegedly belonging to militants from the attack site indicating attackers “suffered losses and managed to take away their injured accomplices”.

The policeman who embraced martyrdom was identified as Constable Rukh Niaz Khan. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi paid tribute to the martyred constable, saying the police bravely fought “Indian-sponsored terrorists” who attacked at night.

Later, the body was of the martyred cop was brought to the Police Lines where RPO Khan, DPO Kulachi, senior police officers and a large number of locals offered funeral prayers.

A police contingent also presented a salute to the fallen cop while police officers placed floral wreaths on his coffin. Later, the body was shifted to his native town for burial.

This was a second attack in a week targeting police as earlier on Thursday six law enforcement personnel were injured in a quadcopter attack on Miryan police station.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2025