LAKKI MARWAT: A police official embraced martyrdom while at least 14 people, 10 policemen among them, were injured in a fierce clash with terrorists in Mamandkhel area of Bannu district on Thursday.

An official source said on the basis of initial information that police were conducting a search operation following information about presence of terrorists in the area.

“During the operation, a fierce gun battle erupted when the law enforcement personnel backed by commandos of Elite Force and armoured personnel carriers confronted the terrorists near Masoomabad in Mamandkhel area along Bannu-Miranshah road,” he said.

He said driver Abid, a police constable and a resident of Sikandarkhel Bsala, lost his life in an intense exchange of fire between the law enforcers and Khwarij that lasted for several hours.

“The wounded policemen and civilians were hurried to the District Headquarters Hospital in Bannu city,” he maintained. The injured policemen included DSP Malik Ihsan and constables Irshad, Anwarullah, Ishaq, Baseer, Hazrat Ali, Sajjad Ali, Asmatullah, Wahidullah and Abdul Samad.

Four civilians who were also wounded in the gunfight were identified as Hussainur Rehman, Muzammil Khan, Lajbaar Khan and an eight-year old girl, Wahaj.

The source claimed that several terrorists were also killed and injured during the gunfight.

Separately, terrorists blew up the building of a health unit in the Bakkakhel town of Bannu district.

Officials said that an improvised explosive device (IED) planted along the building went off with a bang, damaging the infrastructure.

They said no casualties occurred as a result of the explosion. After the blast, a heavy police contingent reached the area and launched a search for the perpetrators.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2025