A paramilitary soldier receives medical assistance in an ambulance in Chaman. Photo: Reuters
QUETTA/PESHAWAR:
A fresh wave of terrorism hit parts of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Wednesday, leaving seven security personnel martyred and several others injured in separate gun attacks, while security forces killed three terrorists during an operation in Lakki Marwat.
In Chaman, Balochistan, three security personnel were killed and another injured when terrorists opened fire on their vehicle in Roghani area on the outskirts of the border town. Police said the officers were on routine patrol when they were ambushed.
The attackers fled immediately after the assault, while the bodies and the injured official were taken to the Chamán Civil Hospital. Authorities confirmed that the injured official was in stable condition.
Police personnel cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to find those responsible. Authorities noted that similar attacks had previously targeted security forces in and around Chaman.
In another incident in Bajaur district, four KP policemen were martyred and two others were injured when gunmen attacked an Ababeel police patrol in Nawa Kalay area of Khar tehsil.
According to the police, the squad was carrying out a routine security patrol at the time of Iftar when the terrorists launched a sudden attack. Station House Officer (SHO) Gul Zada said the policemen came under heavy firing, resulting in four deaths on the spot.
He added that the two injured officials were shifted to the district central hospital in Khar for treatment. Security in the area has since been beefed up and a search operation is underway to arrest the attackers.
In Lakki Marwat district of KP, security forces clashed with terrorists in Zariwal Sarband area, killing at least three during an exchange of fire. Officials said one of the dead was Shakir, a commander of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and a resident of Tajazai.
Sources said Shakir was wanted by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in five cases, including that of facilitating suicide attacks. Authorities described the encounter as part of an ongoing anti-terrorism operation in the region and added that further investigations were underway.
“Security forces responded effectively and eliminated key militant elements during the operation,” an official said, underscoring continued efforts to curb the threat that has shaken the province.
(WITH INPUTS FROM OUR DERA CORRESPONDENT ISMAIL KHAN)
