LAKKI MARWAT: A police team escaped a bomb attack on Miramshah Road in Bannu on Sunday.

An official said a police patrol party was targeted with an improvised explosive device near Azad Mandi area on the busy Bannu-Miramshah Road. “The explosive device planted by unknown miscreants along the road went off with a bang when a police van passed by,” he said.

The official said the van was partially damaged in the explosion. He said all policemen remained unhurt in the attack. “After the blast the road was temporarily closed to enable police experts to collect evidence from the spot,” he said, adding the law enforcers also launched a search operation in the area to track down the perpetrators.

Meanwhile, a man was killed and a young boy was injured when two groups exchanged fire over a property dispute in Jabbarkhel area here on Sunday.

Police identified the deceased as Hidayatullah, 35, and injured as Mohammad Adnan, 20, saying the shooting incident occurred in the limits of Saddar police station.

They quoted a complainant, Samiullah, as saying that Karim Khan, Juma Khan and Mohammad Adnan entered their house and opened fire on his brother, Hidayatullah, killing him on the spot.

However, Mohammad Adnan from the other side told police he was injured when Ghaizullah, Rehmdullah Khan and Naimatullah opened fire at him inside his house.

Separately, a young boy was murdered over a petty dispute in Sarga Kherukhel area in the limits of Shahbazkhel police station.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2025