Ten FC men martyred in DI Khan attack

DERA ISMAIL KHAN/BANNU/ WANA/ JAMRUD: In a tragic turn of events, 10 FC personnel embraced martyrdom and three others sustained injuries in a terrorist attack on a convoy on Dera-Darazinda Road in Dera Ismail Khan on Friday.

Sources said the terrorists attacked a convoy of Frontier Constabulary in Darazinda area, leaving 10 personnel martyred and another three wounded. The convoy was on its way to the FC picket in the area.

The injured, including Naik Hamza, Hassan and Sabir Ayub, were rushed to the Combined Military Hospital. The martyred personnel were identified as Naib Subedar Mohammad Jan Mahsud, Naik Mohammad Arif Khattak, Lance Naik Saeedur Rahman Mahsud and sepoys Akhunzada Mahsud, Hazratullah Mahsud, Mushtaq Ahmad Mahsud, Abdul Samad Mahsud, Imran Khattak, Baseerullah and Mahtab Khattak. After the attack, the security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation. Some reports said one soldier went missing after the attack.

In another attack, two cops, including the station house officer (SHO) of Janikhel Police Station, were martyred and another two sustained injuries in separate terrorist attacks in Bannu.

Sources said heavily armed terrorists first attacked Bakkakhel Police Station on the night between Thursday and Friday. One cop was injured in the attack when the cops manning the police station returned the fire, forcing the attackers to retreat.

Later, a heavy contingent of police led by the district police officer arrived and launched a search operation. The terrorists staged another attack on the cops during the search operation leaving SHO Fayyaz of Janikhel Police Station and another cop Syed Rahman martyred.

The driver of the police van carrying the SHO and other cops was injured. In yet another attack, two persons, including a station house officer, sustained injuries in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Ghwakhwa area of Wana Tehsil on Friday.

Sources said SHO Muzammil Wazir was going home from the Police Lines, Wana in his private vehicle when it was attacked with an improvised explosive device in Ghwakhwa area. The attack left the SHO and a civilian wounded. The injured were rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Wana Kashmir Khan said the injured SHO and the civilian were stable. It was learnt that a cricket tournament was about to begin at the place where the explosion took place. The blast occurred two hours before the start of the game.

Suspected militants attacked the police station in Mulagori sub-tehsil in Jamrud and martyred a constable on Friday. Sources said armed men attacked the police station late Thursday and took the life of police official Saqib Khan.

The police registered a case against the unidentified accused and started investigation. A Pakistan Army cadet was Friday martyred in an exchange of fire with Khwarij at a mosque in Lakki Marwat District during Maghrib prayers. Cadet Arif Ullah (under training at Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul & on leave at his hometown), was offering prayers when the attack occurred, says the ISPR.

Arif, 19, responded to the firing. However, during the exchange of fire, he was martyred. Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the DI Khan terrorist attack and reaffirmed the nation’s resolve to root out terrorism, reports PPI.

In a statement, the president expressed grief over the martyrdom of FC and lauded the patriotic spirit and bravery of the soldiers. He prayed for high ranks of the martyred and patience for the bereaved families.

In his statement, the prime minister paid a rich tribute to the FC personnel and expressed condolences over the martyrdom of two cops in Bannu district and commiserated with the bereaved families.