KARACHI: Militants associated with Indian proxy Fitna al Khawarij attacked a police station in Bannu district overnight, triggering a major security operation in which several Khawarij were killed, authorities said on Friday. The assault marks the latest in a series of attacks on security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The incident came a day after three policemen died in a drive-by shooting at a checkpoint in Hangu district. It also followed a suicide bombing earlier this week on a paramilitary headquarters in Peshawar that killed three personnel.
Police said militants opened fire on the Ahmedzai police station during the night. Security forces returned fire and killed and injured several attackers. A second clash broke out in the Tarkha Oba area when members of the Hathikhel tribe confronted fleeing militants. Police said heavy gunfire was exchanged.
DIG Sajjad Khan ordered a large police contingent to the area. Police said a search operation is under way.
“The peace of the area will be restored at all costs,” Khan said. He added that security is on high alert and the “noose has been tightened around the terrorists.”
Militant attacks have become almost a daily occurrence in KP. Pakistan accuses the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) of planning cross-border assaults from Afghanistan, a claim Kabul rejects.
Yesterday, security forces have killed 22 Fitna al Khawarij militants in Dera Ismail Khan (DI Khan) area of KP.
According to the ISPR, an intelligence-based clearance operation was launched keeping in view the possibility of the presence of militants.
The security forces successfully killed 22 Fitna al Khawarij militants.
According to the ISPR, the militants were involved in the target killing of the security personnel and the civilians.
The ISPR has said that the forces effectively targeted the havens of the militants.
Some deadly weapons, SMGs, explosives, IED’s and maps were recovered from the militants.
The ISPR has further said that the operation against the terrorism continues and the security forces will completely eliminate the Indian-Sponsored militancy from the entire region.
