BANNU: A police constable was martyred when militants targeted an armoured police vehicle with a rocket and sniper attack at Kingar Jan Bahadar, within the jurisdiction of Mandan police station near the Fatahkhel police post here on Friday.

The attack occurred while the vehicle was on a routine patrol.

According to the police, the assault was sudden, causing severe damage to the vehicle and leaving the driver, a constable, critically injured. The constable later succumbed to his injuries.

A civilian present at the scene was also injured and was taken to the District Headquarters Hospital, where he is currently receiving medical treatment. Hospital sources confirmed that the injured civilian is out of danger.

Following the incident, police and security agencies cordoned off the area and launched a largescale search and combing operation.

Police officials stated that all the available resources were being utilised to arrest the militants, while security in the area had been placed on high alert.

Bannu district has been the scene of repeated security incidents in recent months, with both civilians and local security forces coming under attack amid a broader surge in militant violence. The violence has included attacks on police and jirga members, prompting targeted operations by police and security forces in various localities to disrupt militant networks.

At least six terrorists were killed early on Wednesday when the Bannu police successfully repelled a major attack on the Mazanga police post, according to officials.

On Sunday, a police head constable and his five-year-old daughter were injured when unidentified motorcyclists opened fire near Bannu’s Shahdev area. The same day, the bomb disposal squad defused an improvised explosive device (IED) in the jurisdiction of Kakki police station, averting a major tragedy.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2026