Police Abducted in Sararogha, South Waziristan
In a major terrorist attack in the Sararogha area of South Waziristan, six police personnel, including Station House Officer (SHO) Ahmad Shah, were abducted by armed militants on Wednesday. According to police, SHO Ahmad Shah and his team were returning from the site of a grenade blast when they encountered a road blockade allegedly set up by terrorists. The armed men stopped the police vehicle and forcibly took the SHO and five other cops with them.
Police have confirmed the incident and stated that a search operation was launched immediately after the abduction. Security forces and police have intensified checkpoints and patrols across the region in an effort to trace and recover the kidnapped personnel. Family members of the abducted policemen say they have not received any information about their whereabouts, increasing fears for their safety.
Joint Operations Underway for Recovery
Security officials said joint operations are underway and all available resources are being utilized to ensure the safe recovery of the hostages. The kidnapping comes at a time when counterterrorism operations have been intensified across various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with security agencies continuing efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region.
Six Militants Killed in Lower Dir Operation
Meanwhile, a joint operation conducted by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and district police in Lower Dir resulted in the killing of six wanted militants during an exchange of fire. According to a CTD press release, the operation was carried out in the Barcharai area of Talash following intelligence reports about the presence of armed militants in the mountainous region of Dir. The suspects were allegedly involved in multiple militant activities, including the recent attack on the Badwan Bridge police post in which Constable Muhammad Ismail embraced martyrdom.
Security teams launched a cordon operation after receiving information regarding the group’s location. When the suspects allegedly emerged from their hideouts to carry out further activities, law enforcement personnel attempted to arrest them. Authorities stated that the suspects opened indiscriminate fire on police parties, prompting a retaliatory response in self-defence. After a prolonged exchange of fire, security personnel conducted a search operation and recovered the bodies of six militants.
Identities and Recovered Weapons
Among those identified were Khalil ur Rehman alias Saddam, Najmuddin alias Abu Jana and Kifayatullah, while efforts are underway to establish the identities of the remaining deceased. The CTD and police recovered six Kalashnikov rifles, three hand grenades and ammunition from the possession of the deceased. The militants were wanted in multiple terrorism-related cases registered with CTD. A search operation remained underway to apprehend other suspected associates who reportedly escaped during the encounter.
Police Leadership Commends Operations
Inspector General of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Zulfiqar Hameed and the Additional IGP CTD praised the performance of CTD and district police personnel, reaffirming that operations against militancy would continue and that efforts to maintain the writ of the state would remain a priority. Additionally, the IGP CTD stated that the sacrifices of security personnel would not go in vain and reiterated the commitment to protecting lives and property and bringing wanted militants to justice.
