One of the slain terrorists was wanted by Bannu CTD in cases involving murder, terrorism, and bomb blasts
PESHAWAR:
Two terrorists were killed in a joint intelligence-based operation by police and the Counter Terrorism Department in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Lakki Marwat, K-P Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed said on Tuesday.
According to police, the operation was conducted at night within the jurisdiction of City Police Station and was led by the Lakki Marwat deputy superintendent of police. The City station house officer, CTD personnel and members of the local peace committee of Village Council Bego Khel also took part in the operation.
The two terrorists were killed following effective retaliatory action by the security personnel, the police added.
One of the slain terrorists was identified as Mubashir, son of Aslam Khan, who was wanted by Bannu CTD in four separate cases involving murder, attempted murder, terrorism and bomb blasts. The identification of the second terrorist is still under way.
IGP Hameed praised the Lakki Marwat Police and CTD teams for the successful operation against the terrorists. He expressed his resolve to deal with elements hostile to peace with an iron hand, saying the police were committed to “uprooting the menace of terrorism” to ensure lasting peace and stability.
The latest operations come after coordinated terrorist attacks in K-P on July 15. In Bannu, terrorists rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the Miryan police station before engaging security personnel in a prolonged gun battle, injuring six police officers and four civilians. Police said the attackers also blew up a damaged bridge leading to the station in an apparent attempt to delay reinforcements.
Read: Six most wanted terrorists killed in Lower Dir joint operation: CTD
Terrorism has significantly increased in K-P and Balochistan in the past few years. The rise in terrorist activity has led to growing concerns over the security situation in these regions. In response, security forces have been conducting intensive operations to counter the threat, targeting terrorist groups infiltrating from the Afghan border.
The federal government has been consistently raising its voice on international forums against terrorist sanctuaries operating in Afghanistan and using its soil to launch attacks on Pakistan — a development attested to by the United Nations Security Council.
The recent incidents in K-P reflect the continued security challenges faced by the region.
On August 10, in a joint operation in the Miryan area of Bannu, police killed one suspected terrorist and led to the detention of eight others. District police, the Elite Force, CTD and Pakistan Army personnel took part in the operation.
Police said the slain suspect was allegedly killed while attempting to plant an improvised explosive device, with a Kalashnikov, magazines and ammunition recovered from the scene. The operation came amid heightened security measures in Bannu, where mobile phone and internet services had also been suspended for several days.
Read More: Five TTP terrorists killed in Bannu
On July 13, two police officers were killed and two others injured when a suspected remote-controlled improvised explosive device (IED) struck a police armoured personnel carrier during a routine patrol on the Wana-Jandola Road in K-P’s Tank district.
On July 3, unidentified attackers carried out two separate acts of sabotage in Bannu district, targeting a government girls’ middle school and a key link bridge.
Explosives planted inside the Government Girls Middle School in Mama Khel damaged parts of the building, cracking classroom walls and shattering windows and doors.
In a separate incident in the Bachki area of Jani Khel, terrorists planted a drum filled with explosives beneath an important bridge, apparently attempting to disrupt transport links. Security forces and the Bomb Disposal Unit defused the device before it could cause damage.
On June 20, at least seven people were killed when a passenger vehicle was targeted in an IED attack in the region.
