PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) police said that two policemen were martyred in Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack near Raghagan Dam in Bajaur tribal district on Saturday morning.
The District Police Officer Abdul Samad Khan told the media that the police personnel were deployed to guard the dam against the anti-state elements on the direction of KP government. Khan informed that the police jawans were targeted at around 10.30 am as a result two personnel embraced martyrdom. Samad said the bomb was detonated through remote control.
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The police officer confirmed that it was an IED blast however said that further investigation into the attack is underway. The victim policemen were identified as a soldiers and a hawaldar, however, the police have not unveiled their names to the media. The bodies of the slain policemen were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital.
The security forces have cordoned off the area and launched search operation but so far no details of arrests have been shared with the media. Police said that all possible evidence has been collected from the crime spot and further investigation is underway.
This was not the first attack in the area as on 21 October, four Frontier Corps (FC) and four police personnel were martyred in a remote-controlled blast in Bajaur. According to Inter-Services Public Relations [ISPR, the military’s media wing], the security forces were targeted with an IED blast during a search operation in Dabrai area of the tribal district.
Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has condemned the remote controlled bomb blast in Bajaur. He expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyred police. Buzdar further said that the entire nation is united against terrorism and such cowardly acts could not discourage the nation.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif strongly condemned the bomb blast. He said that the officers and soldiers of the police have offered immense sacrifices against terrorism. Shahbaz Sharif said that the sacrifices and efforts of all law enforcement agencies including Pakistan Army, Rangers, FC, Police to eradicate terrorism are commendable and a source of pride.