LAKKI MARWAT/DERA ISMAIL KHAN: The law-enforcement agencies killed two terrorists in separate operations here on Monday.

An official of the Lakki Marwat police told Dawn that a terrorist was killed after an attack on a police van in Abdulkhel area.

He said a terrorist along with others destroyed a police van in a gun and bomb attack during a ‘search and strike operation’.

“A group of terrorists attacked a police party led by deputy superintendent of police Iqbal Momand when the latter was on patrol in the remote rural area. The gun and bomb attack destroyed the van. However, the DSP and other police personnel remained safe,” he said.

The official said police patrols had been increased across Lakki Marwat district to maintain law and order and provide foolproof security to vaccination teams during the ongoing five-day anti-polio campaign.

He said after the attack, the deputy superintendent of police called reinforcement from the police lines to arrest attackers.

The official added that a large police contingent along with Elite Force commandos headed by DPO Ziauddin Ahmad was quick to reach the area and launched a hunt for attackers in the mountains.

“The cops engaged terrorists and one of them was killed as we traded fire,” he said.

The official said law-enforcement agencies seized a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, an AK 47 assault rifle, a pistol and ammunition from the terrorist and shifted his body to a local hospital. He said security had been beefed up in the entire district after the attack. Also in the day, the counter-terrorism department killed a wanted terrorist during an operation in Garah Guldad village of Kulachi tehsil in Dera Ismail Khan district.

Spokesman for the district police Imtiaz Ali Janjua said two terrorists indiscriminately fired gunshots on the CTD personnel during the ongoing anti-polio campaign in Gara Guldad village.

He added that the CTD officials returned fire killing terrorist Waheed on the spot. The spokesman said the terrorist was wanted by the district police in many cases of terrorism.

He said another terrorist, Bin Yamin, managed to flee. Mr Janjua said the force also seized 80 cartridges, one hand grenade, sub-machine gun and pistol each, and 10 magazines.

Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2022