SOUTH WAZIRISTAN/LAKKI MARWAT: Armed men attacked two police vehicles in the Lower South Waziristan tribal district, injuring a DSP.

The incident occurred as the police team was returning from Thatti Samar Bagh police checkpoint and en route to Toi Khullah.

DPO Khankhel said armed men launched a sudden attack near Azarb Khowarthat lasted nearly 30 minutes.

He said the fire was exchanged, injuring Birmal DSP Rakhmeen, but other police personnel remained unharmed.

Two hurt as terrorists use quadcopter to target Bannu police station

The injured DSP was shifted to DHQ hospital in Wana but the doctors referred him to a hospital in Dera Ismail Khan due to critical injuries.

Medical Superintendent at DHQ hospital in Wana Dr Jan Mohammad confirmed the injury of DSP Rakhmeen but said his condition is out of danger.

Police sources revealed that DSP of Wana Imranullah was also part of the police team at the time of the attack but escaped unhurt.

DPO Khankhel said that the attackers fled after the gunfight.

He said a formal investigation had been launched, while a search operation was also under way in the area.

The DPO said that law-enforcement agencies would take decisive action against those threatening peace and stability in the region.

Also late on Thursday, a mortar shell hit a house in Seega village in Ladha tehsil of Upper South Waziristan during an exchange of fire between terrorists and security forces following an attack on a local checkpoint.

A woman sustained injuries who was shifted to the Ladha Civil Hospital. She was discharged after treatment.

It merits mentioning here that on June 30 night, mortar shelling in various villages of Ladha led to the death of a woman in Kot Langarkhel. Political and social leaders from the Mehsud tribe demonstrated outside the Ladha Fort, demanding an immediate end to shelling in civilian areas.

They also called a jirga on July 10 to discuss the “deteriorating” law and order situation and decide the future course of action.

Meanwhile, two people were injured as terrorists carried out a drone attack on a police station in the Miryan area of Bannu district on Thursday.

A police official said that an explosive device was dropped from an unmanned quadcopter inside the building.

He said that the munitions landed on a drain along the main gate of the police station, causing injuries to two civilians.

“All policemen remained unhurt in the attack and it did not cause any damage to the police station building,” he said.

The official said that the injured civilians, including Mabaz and Samimullah, were immediately shifted to the district headquarters hospital where their condition was stated to be out of danger.

He said the police had deployed the drone detection and neutralisation system and were fully prepared to counter the “battle of technology” effectively.

The official said that the fire-down protocols to shoot and destroy drones mid-air would also be used if the need arose.

Separately, a watchman was killed and his companion was injured when unidentified men opened fire on them in the Havaid Adda area in Bannu on Wednesday night.

Police said Farmanullah, 36, instantly died of critical wounds, while the other injured, Wakil, was moved to the DHQ Hospital. They were private watchmen and had reportedly no enmity. Police said that Wakil was referred to a Peshawar hospital due to his precarious condition, while a case was registered against unidentified gunmen.

Meanwhile, Regional Police Officer of Bannu Sajjad Khan visited the houses of the martyred policeman in the Tor Lawangkhel area of Lakki Marwat district on Thursday. CTD SP Abdul Wahid and other police officials accompanied him.

The RPO offered Fateha for the personnel, who had laid down their lives in the line of duty near Gul Baz Dehqan area on the Indus Highway three days ago.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2025