Attacks in Lakki Marwat and Tank add to concerns as police face growing militant violence in southern KP
DI KHAN:
Assistant sub-inspector Mumtaz Ali was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Lakki Marwat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, police said on Monday.
In another incident, a police officer previously reported kidnapped in the Tank area was later found dead, officials said.
Police said four armed men intercepted a van near Adda Wanda Jogi in Ghazni Khel area and forced ASI Mumtaz Ali to come out before opening fire.
The officer was assigned to Tank. The attack took place within the jurisdiction of Pizo police station, police said.
Mumtaz Ali was rushed to hospital but died from his injuries. Police said an investigation had been launched.
ASI Mumtaz Ali, left, and Constable Sajjad Hussain, right. The two policemen were killed in separate attacks reported in Tank and Lakki Marwat. Photos: Express
Authorities said the attackers arrived on motorbikes and allegedly took off-road routes coming from the Malagan side. They fled via the same route after the attack, police added.
In another incident in Tank, police confirmed the murder of constable Sajjad Hussain. He was previously reported to have been kidnapped in the Shah Alam Abad area while on leave.
Police said his body was recovered and shifted to hospital for medico-legal formalities. Authorities said efforts were underway to determine the circumstances of his killing.
Authorities said the two incidents have raised concerns over the security situation in Tank and neighboring districts of southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Read: KP predicts 50% increase in terrorist attacks in 2025
Police personnel have been increasingly targeted in these areas in recent months, officials said.
According to security assessments cited in a previous report from The Express PK Press ClubKhyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded over 1,500 terrorism-related incidents in the past year.
More than 130 police and personnel were killed in attacks on patrols, convoys and off-duty officials during this period.
Districts including Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat and Tank were among the worst affected.
Police said both murders are being looked at from multiple angles. Search and investigation operations were underway to trace and arrest those involved, officials said.
