BANNU: A police constable was martyred when unidentified armed men opened fire on him in the Sorani area of Bannu on Sunday morning, police said.

According to a police statement, the martyred police official — Constable Saifullah Khan, a resident of Surani — was returning home after performing his duty at the Mirzabet Shah Surani Township police post when he came under attack by unidentified armed men as he entered his village.

He sustained multiple bullet wounds and was martyred at the scene.

Police termed the incident was an act of terrorism, and a search operation had been launched to arrest the perpetrators.

The funeral prayer of the martyred constable was offered at the Bannu Police Lines. District Police Officer Bannu Captain (retired) Muhammad Furqan Bilal, senior police officers, personnel and members of the bereaved family attended the funeral.

DPO Bilal laid a floral wreath on the coffin of the martyred constable and paid tribute to his sacrifice. A smartly turned-out police contingent also presented a guard of honour during the funeral rites.

The DPO said the police remain determined to avenge the blood of their martyrs and will continue the fight against terrorism until the very end.

Following the incident, security has been tightened in the area.

The incident comes two days after a cop was martyred while another was wounded after terrorists attacked a police post in Bajaur district’s Barang tehsil.

Earlier this month, at least 14 people, including police officials, were martyred and at least 18 others injured in a suicide attack on Swat’s Kabal police station.

On July 30, a terrorist attack on a police checkpost in Hangu martyred nine policemen.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been facing security challenges, with the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies’ latest monthly assessment stating that the province, excluding merged districts, recorded 154 terrorism related deaths in July, compared with 75 in June, representing an increase of 105 per cent.