In a bold and swift counteraction, police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district thwarted an audacious attempt by Khawarij to establish an armed extortion checkpoint on a busy public road in the Nurar area, District Police Officer Salim Abbas Kallachi confirmed on Sunday.
According to the DPO, the Khawarij armed with heavy weapons including sniper rifles attempted to block the highway and extort money from commuters under the guise of forced donations. Acting on intelligence, Bannu police launched a rapid-response operation, forcing the militants to flee without confrontation.
“They came to terrorize civilians and take control of a public route, but our forces responded with speed and strength,” said DPO Kallachi. “They ran for their lives, abandoning their weapons and plans. Let it be clear: the Khawarij have no place here not on our roads, not in our streets.”
The DPO reaffirmed that the police will continue operations until the last remnant of the Khawarij is eliminated. “We are determined to restore complete peace in Bannu. There will be no compromise when it comes to the security and dignity of our people,” he declared.
The attempted blockade came just a day after police confronted a sizable group of Khawarij in the jurisdiction of Miryan Police Station, following reports that they were extorting money from local residents. That encounter also resulted in a brief but intense exchange of fire.
Officials say the back-to-back engagements underscore a renewed push by the Khawarij to assert control in vulnerable areas a push that the police are confronting head-on with unwavering resolve. Intelligence-based operations across Bannu are being intensified, with a clear mandate: dismantle every last network seeking to destabilize the region. Police authorities have urged citizens to remain vigilant and cooperate with law enforcement, assuring them that no armed group will be allowed to threaten public life or challenge the writ of the state.
