3 cops martyred in IED blast targeting police vehicle in Dera Ismail Khan

D.I.KHAN: Three cops, including an assistant sub-inspector (ASI), were martyred in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast targeting a police vehicle in Dera Ismail Khan on Wednesday.

The spokesperson for district police, Yaqoob Zulqarnain said, told media that an IED was used in the blast that took place in Paniyala area, which is in the jurisdiction of the Shaheed Nawab Khan police station.

ASI Gul Alam, Constable Rafiq and the driver of the mobile van, Sakhi Jan, lost their lives in the incident, the police spokesperson said, adding that another constable accompanying them, Azad Shah, remained unhurt.

He said the site of the incident had been cordoned off and a search operation had been launched.

“Police are searching for the attackers, and the matter is being investigated from all angles,” he said.

The Paniyala deputy superintendent of police and station house officer, as well as the district police official (DPO), also reached the site of the blast after the incident, according to the police spokesperson.

Separately, a statement issued by the office of DI Khan DPO Sajjad Ahmad Sahibzada said that the attack was carried out by “unidentified terrorists”.

The statement said the DPO also spoke to the media, saying: “The terrorists have carried out a cowardly attack. Such acts cannot dampen the morale of the police.”

Later, an official statement issued by DI Khan Police said the DPO reviewed the evidence gathered from the site. He was briefed by Saddar Superintendent of Police (SP) Muahammad Nawab Khan, Paharpur Syed Asad Ali Shah and DI Khan bomb disposal unit in-charge Inayatullah briefed the DPO on the initial investigation, nature of the attack and evidence collected until then.

Outlining the details of the search and strike operation under way in the area, the statement said it was being carried out by police personnel, alburq force, elite force and bomb disposal teams.

In a subsequent statement issued around 4:30, police said two terrorists had been killed during the ongoing search and strike operation.

“An intense exchange of fire took place between the police and terrorists,” the statement said, adding that two terrorists of “Fitna-al-Khawarij” had been killed while there were reports of another two getting injured.

Funeral prayers were offered later in the day for the martyred personnel.

KP Governor and Chief Minister Sohail Afridi strongly condemned the blast and expressed deep sorrow and grief over the martyrdom of three policemen in the attack. Staff Report