• Gun battle erupts in Bannu as police, tribesmen repel attack
• Assault on police posts in Lower Dir also foiled

SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: Two people were killed and at least 20 others inj­ured when a remote-controlled bomb blast rocked Wana Bazaar on Thursday morning, reigniting fears amid a growing wave of militancy in the region.

The explosion occurred around 10am near Rustam Bazaar, during a routine police patrol. The blast was so powerful that it shattered the windows of nearby buildings and caused extensive damage to vehicles parked in the vicinity.

According to Wana DSP Imranullah, unidentified assailants planted an improvised explosive device (IED) on the roadside overnight, which was detonated remotely as the police van passed by.

Police units and rescue teams swiftly arrived on the scene, shifting the injured to District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Wana.

Medical Superintendent Dr Jan Muhammad confirmed that two individuals died on the spot, while 20 others, including two police officers, sustained injuries.

One of the injured is being treated at DHQ Hospital, while a critically wounded individual was transferred to a hospital in Dera Ismail Khan. In response to the attack, law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.

Police post attacked

Separately, a fierce gun battle erupted late on Wednesday night in the Khonikhel area of Wazir subdivision in Bannu, after a group of militants attacked a police post. A police constable was injured during the attack, though his condition is said to be stable.

Officials said the terrorists, armed with both light and heavy weapons, attempted to breach the police post. However, following an intense exchange of fire, local tribesmen came to the police’s aid and helped repel the attackers.

Lower Dir attacks

Also on Wednesday night, armed militants launched coordinated attacks on multiple police posts and a police station in the Maidan area of Lower Dir. Security forces successfully repelled the assaults, with one Dir Scouts personnel sustaining injuries during the excha­nge of fire.

The most serious attack took place at the joint police and Levies checkpoint in Sar Larah, where militants opened fire on the position. However, the police and Dir Scouts personnel responded swiftly, forcing the attackers to retreat.

The attackers also attempted to target other police installations, including Lal Qila Police Station and posts in Sori Pau and Gumbat Banda. All attacks were thwarted without loss of life or infrastructure damage.

Ghulam Mursalin Marwat in Lakki Marwat and Haleem Asad in Lower Dir also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2025